In 1937, Artur Rodziński was hired by NBC to prepare their orchestra for its debut concert series. The formal conductor for these broadcasts was to be Arturo Toscanini – yet when Toscanini finished the first season, it was Rodziński that was called back to be guest conductor the following year. All seven of Rodziński’s concerts that year were recorded and compiled onto one album. Tonight, we hear selections from those concerts and what makes them special.
Artur Rodziński and the NBC Symphony in 1938
Artur Rodziński publicity photo. (Photo: Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Playlist
Barber: Symphony No. 1
Beethoven: Coriolan Overture
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances – Suite 1
Prokofiev: “Classical” Symphony
Dohnanyi: Suite for Orchestra
Weber: Oberon – Overture
Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Wagner: Die Meistersinger – Prelude III, “Dance of Apprentices”
