Alfredo Antonini

Alfredo Antonini (May 31, 1901 – November 3, 1983) was a leading Italian/American symphony conductor and composer who was active on the international concert stage as well as on the CBS radio and television networks from the 1930s through the early 1970s.[1][2][3][4] In 1972 he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Religious Programming on television for his conducting of the premiere of Ezra Laderman's opera And David Wept for CBS television during 1971.[5] [6][7]

Biography

Maestro Antonini was born in Milan, Italy and pursued his musical studies at the Royal Conservatory in Milan. He was a student of the legendary Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini. In addition, he distinguihed himself as both an organist and pianist with La Scala Orchestra in Milan prior to emigrating to the United States in 1929. . [8]

During the 1940s he distinguished himself as a conductor of several leading orchestras while performing on the CBS radio network. These included: the CBS Pan American Orchestra (1940–1949), the Columbia Concert Orchestra (1940–1949) and the CBS Symphony Orchestra.

He also conducted live radio broadcasts of the popular program Viva America on the CBS radio network and La Cadena de las Americas (Network of the Americas) in collaboration with such noted artists as Nestor Chayres (Mexican tenor aka "El Gitano De Mexico") Terig Tucci (Argentine composer/arranger) and John Serry, Sr. (Italian-American concert accordionist).[9] He also appeared with Nestor Chayres (tenor) at the Night of the Americas Concert series at Carnegie Hall.[10] His performances with the Carnegie Hall Pops Orchestra at Carnegie Hall were eagerly anticipated by the general public.[11][12] Additional performances in collaboration with Juan Arvizu ("El Troubador de las Americas") and the CBS Tipica Orchestra for the Inter-America Music Fiesta at Carnegie Hall attracted widespread acclaim.[13][14]

As a musical director at CBS Television during the 1950s, Mr. Antonini was instrumental in presenting an extensive program of classical and operatic music to the general public. His collaboration with Julie Andrews, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II in a production of Cinderella for CBS television was critically acclaimed in 1957 and was telecast live to an audience of 107 million people.[15] During this decade he also appeared in concert with such operatic divas as Eileen Farrell (soprano) and Beverly Sills (soprano).[16] Later in this decade (1957) Mr. Antonini emerged as the musical director and conductor of the Tampa Philharmonic in Florida.

Maestro Antonini also served as a conductor of the popular open air summer concerts held at the landmark Lewisohn Stadium in New York City during the 1950s. His appearances with the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and the Lewisohn Stadium Orchestra during the series of Italian Night concerts frequently attracted audiences which exceeded 13,000 guests. These performances featured arias from the standard Italian operatic repertoire and showcased such operatic luminaries as: Jan Peerce, Eileen Farrell, Richard Tucker, Beverly Sills and Robert Merrill [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

During the late 50's and early 60's, Maestro Antonini conducted the CBS Orchestra on "American Musical Theater". This was a TV show produced by the New York City Board of Education (as a public service before the advent of the Public Television Network) that chronicled the evolution of musical theater in America in front of a small audience of high school students. Guests included Richard Rodgers, John Bubbles and many others.

In 1962 Antonini's interest in public affairs broadcasting emerged once again in a collaboration with the First Lady of the United States Jacqueline Kennedy, the director Franklin J. Schaffner and the journalist Charles Collingwood of CBS News for the groundbreaking television documentary A Tour of the White House with Mrs. John F. Kennedy. This documentary television program was enjoyed by over 80 million views throughout the world and received wide critical acclaim. [27]

In 1964 Antonini appeared as conductor of the CBS Symphony Orchestra in an acclaimed adaptation of Hector Berlioz's sacred oratorio L'enfance du Christ for CBS Television. His operatic soloists included: Sherrill Milnes, Giorgio Tozzi, Ara Berberian as supported by the choral voices of the Camerata Singers. At this time he also collaborated as conductor for a televised episode of The CBS Repertoire Workshop - "Feliz Borinquen", which showcased the talents of such leading Puerto Rican performers as: Martina Arroyo and Raul Davila [28] [29] [30]

In addition to performing as a conductor on WOR radio in New York City during the 1940s, he appeared as a guest conductor for leading symphonic orchestras in Chicago, IL, Milwaukee, WI, Oslo, Norway, and Chile during the 1950s. During this time he also founded the Tampa Philharmonic Orchestra in Tampa, Florida, which eventually merged into the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony. [31] In the 1960s Maestro Antonini also appeared as a guest conductor with the New York Philharmonic at Philharmonic Hall during a grand opera benefit concert which featured the artistry of Jan Peerce and Robert Merrill.[32] Throughout the 1960s he continued to collaborate with such operatic luminaries as Jan Peerce (tenor), Robert Merrill (baritone)and Franco Corelli (tenor) in a variety of gala concerts.[32][33] He also performed with Roberta Peters at the Lewisohn Stadium at City College for an audience of thousands.[34]

In 1971, Antonini excelled once again as Musical Director on the CBS Television premier of Ezra Laderman's opera And David Wept, earning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Religious Programming (1972). He collaborated in this premier production with such operatic luminaries as Sherrill Milnes, Rosalind Elias and Ara Berberian. Several years later in 1975 he joined forces once again with Berberian and the mezzo-soprano Elaine Bonazzi for the CBS Television movie, A Handful of Souls. [35] [36] [37] [38]

Antonini's collaborations at CBS Television extended beyond the realm of opera to include prominent figures from several professions including: Philanthropy - (John D. Rockefeller III),[39]) Government - (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis)[40] Journalism - (Charles Collingwood,[41] [42] Walter Cronkite,[43] [44] [45] Daniel Shorr)[46] [47] Art - (Henry Moore,[48] Kenneth Clark)[49] Dance - (Mary Hinkson) [50] Drama -(John Alexander,[51] Julie Andrews,[52] Ingrid Bergman,[53] Betty Comden, [54] Henry Fonda, [55] Jackie Gleason,[56] Steven Hill,[57] Ron Holgate,[58] Celeste Holm,[59] Richard Kiley, [60] Howard Lindsay, [61] Michael Redgrave) [62] and the Concert Stage - (Charles Anthony,[63] John Browning). [64]

Maestro Antonini's musical legacy has been preserved on a variety of LP recordings which reflect his interest in symphonic compositions, popular music from Latin-America and grand opera. He has recorded for Coral Records, Columbia Masterworks and SESAC Records.

Compositions

Albums

Filmography

Awards

Professional affiliations

References

  1. ↑ The New York Times, July 2, 1948, pg. 24
  2. ↑ The New York Times, October 5, 1948, pg. 30
  3. ↑ The New York Times, April 25, 1957, pg. 34
  4. ↑ The New York Times, February 12, 1960, pg. 22
  5. ↑ "Obituaries: Conductor Alfredo Antonini" (PDF). Central Opera Service Bulletin, Vol. 25, No. 2. Winter–Spring 1984.
  6. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2358889/?ref_=nv_sr_1
  7. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2358889/awards?ref_=tt_awd
  8. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=45078083
  9. ↑ The New York Times', June 9, 1946, pg. 49.
  10. ↑ The New York Times, May 12, 1946, pg. 42
  11. ↑ The New York Times, May 17, 1947, pg. 8
  12. ↑ The New York Times, May 4, 1950, pg. 37
  13. ↑ The New York Times, October 27, 1941, pg. 21
  14. ↑ The New York Times, February 1, 1942, pg. D2
  15. ↑ The New York Times, March 31, 1957, pg. 106
  16. 1 2 The New York Times, July 9, 1956, pg. 26
  17. ↑ The New York Times, July 24, 1950, pg. 26
  18. ↑ The New York Times, July 11, 1952, pg. 13
  19. ↑ The New York Times, July 18, 1952, pg 10
  20. ↑ The New York Times, July 20, 1953, pg. 14
  21. ↑ The New York Times, July 10, 1954, pg. 6
  22. ↑ The New York Times, June 12, 1955, pg. X7
  23. ↑ The New York Times, May 14, 1958, pg. 36
  24. ↑ The New York Times, July 30, 1958, pg. 19
  25. ↑ The New York Times, May 6, 1959, pg 48
  26. ↑ The New York Times, May 14, 1959, pg. 29
  27. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0207800/?ref_nm_flmg_msdp_14
  28. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780509/?ref_=nm_knf_t1
  29. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0031350/
  30. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6249208/?ref_=nm_flmg_msdp_10
  31. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/05/obituaries/no-headline-019832.html
  32. 1 2 The New York Times, December 6, 1964, pg. 114
  33. ↑ The New York Times, November 14, 1965, pg. 101
  34. ↑ The New York Times, July 30, 1962, pg. 14
  35. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2358889/?ref_=nv_sr_1
  36. ↑ http://www.milkenarchive.org/artists/view/ezra-laderman/
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