Vittorio (Victor) De Sabata (April 10, 1892 – December 11, 1967) was an Italian conductor and composer. De Sabata is widely recognized as one of the greatest conductors of Italian opera, especially Verdi and Puccini, and is also acclaimed for his conducting of orchestral music from the 19th and 20th centuries. Like his near contemporary Wilhelm Furtwängler, De Sabata regarded composition as more important than conducting but struggled to achieve recognition as a composer. April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... 1892 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... See Conductor for other possible uses of the word. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Italian opera can be divided into three periods, the Baroque, the Romantic and the modern. ... Giuseppe Verdi, by Giovanni Boldini, 1886 (National Gallery of Modern Art, Rome) Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (October 10, 1813 – January 27, 1901) is to date the most influential composer of the Italian School of Opera. ... Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (December 22, 1858 – November 29, 1924) is regarded as one of the great operatic composers of the late 19th and early 20th century. ... Orchestra at City Hall (Edmonton). ... Wilhelm Furtwängler (January 25, 1886 – November 30, 1954) was a German conductor and composer. ...

Early Life

De Sabata was born in the cosmopolitan city of Trieste, Austria (today in Italy) to a Roman Catholic father and a Jewish mother. Both his parents were musicians: his father was a professional singing teacher and his mother was a keen amateur. His formal musical studies began after his family moved to Milan around 1900. While at Milan, De Sabata studied at the Conservatory, excelling at piano, violin, theory, composition and conducting. In 1911 he performed in an orchestra under the baton of Arturo Toscanini who greatly influenced him. Location within Italy Trieste (Latin Tergeste, Italian Trieste,German and Friulian Triest, Slovenian and Croatian Trst) is a city in northeastern Italy, capital of Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and Trieste province, with a population of 211,184 (2001). ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... Milan (Italian: Milano; Milanese dialect: Milán) is the main city in northern Italy, and is located in the plains of Lombardy, the most populated and developed region in Italy. ... 1900 (MCM) is a common year starting on Monday. ... Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini (March 25, 1867 – January 16, 1957) was considered by many of his contemporaries — critics, fellow musicians, and the public alike — as the greatest conductor of his era. ...

Conducting Career

In 1918 De Sabata was appointed conductor of the Monte Carlo Opera, performing a wide variety of late-19th century and contemporary works. In 1925, he conducted the world premiere of L'enfant et les sortilèges by Ravel. The next day Ravel wrote a note to the conductor saying that "You have given me one of the most complete joys of my career". In 1921, while still conducting opera at Monte Carlo, De Sabata began his career as a symphonic conductor with the orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He conducted the orchestra of La Scala in Milan for the first time in 1926, and conducted opera there from 1930, soon becoming the music director, a post he would hold for over 20 years. 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... The Opéra de Monte-Carlo is an opera house in Monaco. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... LEnfant et les sortilèges: Fantaisie lyrique en deux parties (The Child and the Spells: a lyric fantasy for two) is an opera by Maurice Ravel with a libretto by Colette. ... Joseph-Maurice Ravel (March 7, 1875 – December 28, 1937) was a French composer and pianist, best known for his orchestral work, Boléro, and his famous 1922 orchestral arrangement of Modest Mussorgskys Pictures at an Exhibition. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... A symphony is an extended piece of music for orchestra, especially one in the form of a sonata. ... La Scala The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala for short), in Milan, Italy, is one of the worlds most famous opera houses. ... 1930 (MCMXXX) is a common year starting on Wednesday. ...

During the 1930s, De Sabata conducted widely in Italy and Central Europe. In 1939, he conducted Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde at Bayreuth and made celebrated recordings of Brahms, Wagner and Richard Strauss with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. It is unclear why he was allowed to work in Germany by the Nazi regime despite his part-Jewish background. // Events and trends The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the global depression. ... // Events January-March January 2 - End of term for Frank Finley Merriam, 28th Governor of California. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig – February 13, 1883 in Venice) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his groundbreaking symphonic-operas (or music dramas). His compositions are notable for their continuous contrapuntal texture, rich harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate... Tristan und Isolde is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. ... The Bayreuth Festspielhaus (Bayreuth Festival Theatre) is an opera house built to the north of the town of Bayreuth in Germany, dedicated to the performance of Richard Wagners operas. ... Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (May 7, 1833 – April 3, 1897) was a German composer of classical music. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig – February 13, 1883 in Venice) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his groundbreaking symphonic-operas (or music dramas). His compositions are notable for their continuous contrapuntal texture, rich harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate... Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864 – September 8, 1949) was a German composer of the late Romantic era, particularly noted for his tone poems and operas. ... The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (a. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Nazism. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ...

After World War II, De Sabata's career expanded internationally. He was a frequent guest conductor in London, New York and other American cities. His base remained La Scala, Milan, and he often worked with the soprano Maria Callas. In 1953 he collaborated with Callas in a recording of Puccini's Tosca that is widely regarded as one of the greatest opera recordings of all time. The same year he suffered a heart attack that prompted him to stop performing in public. He resigned his post at La Scala and was succeeded by his assistant Carlo Maria Giulini. World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrination, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atomic bomb. ... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7. ... State nickname: The Empire State Official languages English Capital Albany Largest city New York City Governor George Pataki (R) Senators Charles Schumer (D) Hillary Clinton (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 27th 141,205 km² 13. ... Maria Callas on book cover Maria Callas (Greek name: Μαρία Καλογεροπούλου; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano and perhaps the best-known opera singer of the post-World War II period. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Victorien Sardous drama, La Tosca. ... Carlo Maria Giulini (May 9, 1914 – June 14, 2005) was an Italian conductor. ...

De Sabata only conducted twice again, once in a famous recording of Verdi's Requiem from 1954, and at Toscanini's memorial services in 1957. The last years of his life were devoted to composition, and he died in obscurity in Italy in 1967. The Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi is a musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral Mass (called the Requiem for the first word of the text, which begins Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, meaning, Grant them eternal rest, O Lord--see full entry at Dies Irae) that was completed on the... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Arturo Toscanini (March 25, 1867 - January 16, 1957) was considered by many of his contemporaries — critics, fellow musicians, and the public alike — as the greatest conductor of his era. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Conducting Style

De Sabata's conducting style combined the fire, iron control and technical precision of Toscanini with a deep sonority and flexibility of phrasing more reminiscent of Furtwängler. He was exceptionally demanding of his players: according to one musician: "Those eyes and ears missed nothing…the players had been made to work harder than ever before and they knew that, without having been asked to play alone, they had been individually assessed" [1] Arturo Toscanini (March 25, 1867 - January 16, 1957) was considered by many of his contemporaries — critics, fellow musicians, and the public alike — as the greatest conductor of his era. ... Wilhelm Furtwängler (January 25, 1886 – November 30, 1954) was a German conductor and composer. ...

Musical Abilities

There are several amazing anecdotes of De Sabata's musical abilities. Among them:

• After De Sabata was shown the score of Elgar's Enigma Variations for the first time, the very next day he rehearsed the work from memory and pointed out several errors in the orchestral parts which no-one, including Elgar himself, had noticed before. [2]
• In a rehearsal of Respighi's Feste Romane, De Sabata told one brass player to play in a higher octave. The player protested that what De Sabata was asking was impossible, whereupon the conductor seized his instrument and blew the note perfectly.

Edward Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, Bt OM GCVO (June 2, 1857 – February 23, 1934) was a British composer, born in the small Worcestershire village of Broadheath to William Elgar, a piano tuner and music dealer, and his wife Ann. ... Variations on an Original Theme for orchestra (Enigma),op. ... Ottorino Respighi (born in Bologna on July 9, 1879, died in Rome on April 18, 1936) was an Italian composer and musicologist. ... Feste Romane (Italian “Roman Festivals”) was a 1926 work written by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi as a satire of the Roman Empire. ...

List of Notable Recordings of De Sabata's Conducting

Album cover from Pearl's CD release of De Sabata's 1939 Berlin Philharmonic recordings

The recordings that De Sabata made in the studio are, with some exceptions, less gripping than the best of his work in the concert-hall and opera-house. (This may be connected with the fact that he is said to have hated making recordings). [3] Fortunately there are now several unauthorized "live" recordings that demonstrate just how exciting de Sabata could be on the podium (although the sound quality can be problematic). This contrast comes through in the two different versions of Richard Strauss's Death and Transfiguration and Verdi's Requiem listed below. Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864 – September 8, 1949) was a German composer of the late Romantic era, particularly noted for his tone poems and operas. ... Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration) is a tone poem by Richard Strauss. ... VERDI is an acronym for the Italian unification movement, named after the composer Giuseppe Verdi (ardent supporter of the movement) VERDI stands for Vittorio Emmanuelle, Re D Italia (Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy) Categories: Historical stubs ... The Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi is a musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral Mass (called the Requiem for the first word of the text, which begins Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, meaning, Grant them eternal rest, O Lord--see full entry at Dies Irae) that was completed on the...

• Beethoven, Fifth Symphony, live performance with the New York Philharmonic, New York, 1950 (currently available on Urania and Tahra: Urania is superior)

• Brahms, Fourth Symphony, studio recording with the Berlin Philharmonic, Deutsche Grammophon 1939 (currently available on Pearl)

• Debussy, Jeux, studio recording with the Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome, HMV, 1947. The premiere recording of this work. (Currently available on Testament)

• Debussy, La mer, studio recording with the Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome, HMV 1948 (currently available on Testament)

• Puccini, Tosca, studio recording with Callas, HMV 1953. De Sabata's and Callas's most famous recording. (currently available on EMI and Naxos)

• Respighi, Feste Romane, studio recording with the Berlin Philharmonic, Deutsche Grammophon, 1939 (currently available on Pearl)

• Respighi, Fountains of Rome, studio recording with the Orchestra of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome, HMV, 1947 (currently available on Testament)

• Respighi, Pines of Rome, live performance with the New York Philharmonic, New York, 1950 (currently available on Urania)

• Sibelius, First Symphony, live performance with the New York Philharmonic, New York, 1950 (currently avaliable on Urania and Nuova Era)

• Richard Strauss, Death and Transfiguration, studio recording with the Berlin Philharmonic, Deutsche Grammophon 1939 (currently available on Pearl)

• Richard Strauss, Death and Transfiguration, live performance with the Vienna Philharmonic, Salzburg, 1953 (currently available on IDI and Nuova Era)

• Verdi, Falstaff, live performance with Tebaldi and Stabile, La Scala, Milan, 1951 (currently available on Music and Arts, and Urania)

• Verdi, Macbeth, live performance with Callas, La Scala, Milan, 1952 (currently available on EMI)

• Verdi, Requiem, live performance with Tebaldi, La Scala, Milan, 1951 (currently available on Urania)

• Verdi, Requiem, studio recording with Schwarzkopf, HMV 1954 (currently available on EMI)

• Wagner, Tristan und Isolde, live performance with Grob-Prandl, La Scala, Milan, 1951 (currently available on Archipel)

• Wagner, miscellaneous operatic excerpts, live performance with Eileen Farrell and the New York Philharmonic, New York, 1951 (currently available on Urania)

Ludwig van Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized December 17, 1770 – March 26, 1827) was a German composer of Classical music, the predominant musical figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras. ... Ludwig van Beethovens Symphony No. ... The New York Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in New York City. ... Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (May 7, 1833 – April 3, 1897) was a German composer of classical music. ... The Symphony No. ... The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the worlds leading orchestras. ... Deutsche Grammophon is a German record company. ... Claude Debussy Claude Achille Debussy (August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918), composer of impressionistic classical music. ... His Masters Voice, often abbreviated to HMV, is a famous trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record company. ... Claude Debussy Claude Achille Debussy (August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918), composer of impressionistic classical music. ... La Mer is an orchestral composition by the French composer Claude Debussy. ... His Masters Voice, often abbreviated to HMV, is a famous trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record company. ... Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini (December 22, 1858 – November 29, 1924) is regarded as one of the great operatic composers of the late 19th and early 20th century. ... Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Victorien Sardous drama, La Tosca. ... Maria Callas on book cover Maria Callas (Greek name: Μαρία Καλογεροπούλου; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano and perhaps the best-known opera singer of the post-World War II period. ... His Masters Voice, often abbreviated to HMV, is a famous trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record company. ... Ottorino Respighi (born in Bologna on July 9, 1879, died in Rome on April 18, 1936) was an Italian composer and musicologist. ... Feste Romane (Italian “Roman Festivals”) was a 1926 work written by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi as a satire of the Roman Empire. ... The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the worlds leading orchestras. ... Deutsche Grammophon is a German record company. ... Ottorino Respighi (born in Bologna on July 9, 1879, died in Rome on April 18, 1936) was an Italian composer and musicologist. ... Fontane di Roma (Italian Fountains of Rome) is a 1916 work by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, now considered apart of the Roman Trilogy of symphonic poems along with Feste Romane and Pini di Roma. ... His Masters Voice, often abbreviated to HMV, is a famous trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record company. ... Ottorino Respighi (born in Bologna on July 9, 1879, died in Rome on April 18, 1936) was an Italian composer and musicologist. ... The New York Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in New York City. ... Sibelius Jean Sibelius (December 8, 1865 – September 20, 1957) was a Finnish composer of classical music; he also studied the violin as a young man. ... Jean Sibeliuss Symphony No. ... The New York Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in New York City. ... Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864 – September 8, 1949) was a German composer of the late Romantic era, particularly noted for his tone poems and operas. ... Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration) is a tone poem by Richard Strauss. ... The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the worlds leading orchestras. ... Deutsche Grammophon is a German record company. ... Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864 – September 8, 1949) was a German composer of the late Romantic era, particularly noted for his tone poems and operas. ... Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration) is a tone poem by Richard Strauss. ... The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (in German: Wiener Philharmoniker) is the best known orchestra in Austria and one of Europes major ensembles. ... VERDI is an acronym for the Italian unification movement, named after the composer Giuseppe Verdi (ardent supporter of the movement) VERDI stands for Vittorio Emmanuelle, Re D Italia (Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy) Categories: Historical stubs ... Falstaff is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, adapted by Arrigo Boito from Shakespeares play The Merry Wives of Windsor. ... The Italian opera singer Renata Tebaldi (February 1, 1922 - December 19, 2004) was one of the most famous sopranos of the post-war period. ... VERDI is an acronym for the Italian unification movement, named after the composer Giuseppe Verdi (ardent supporter of the movement) VERDI stands for Vittorio Emmanuelle, Re D Italia (Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy) Categories: Historical stubs ... Macbeth is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave with additions by Andrea Maffei, based on Shakespeares play of the same name. ... Maria Callas on book cover Maria Callas (Greek name: Μαρία Καλογεροπούλου; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano and perhaps the best-known opera singer of the post-World War II period. ... VERDI is an acronym for the Italian unification movement, named after the composer Giuseppe Verdi (ardent supporter of the movement) VERDI stands for Vittorio Emmanuelle, Re D Italia (Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy) Categories: Historical stubs ... The Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi is a musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral Mass (called the Requiem for the first word of the text, which begins Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, meaning, Grant them eternal rest, O Lord--see full entry at Dies Irae) that was completed on the... The Italian opera singer Renata Tebaldi (February 1, 1922 - December 19, 2004) was one of the most famous sopranos of the post-war period. ... VERDI is an acronym for the Italian unification movement, named after the composer Giuseppe Verdi (ardent supporter of the movement) VERDI stands for Vittorio Emmanuelle, Re D Italia (Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy) Categories: Historical stubs ... The Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi is a musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral Mass (called the Requiem for the first word of the text, which begins Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, meaning, Grant them eternal rest, O Lord--see full entry at Dies Irae) that was completed on the... Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is a German opera singer, (born December 9, 1915) is one of the leading sopranos of the post-World War II period, much admired for her performances of Mozart and Strauss. ... His Masters Voice, often abbreviated to HMV, is a famous trademark in the music business, and for many years was the name of a large record company. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig – February 13, 1883 in Venice) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his groundbreaking symphonic-operas (or music dramas). His compositions are notable for their continuous contrapuntal texture, rich harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate... Tristan und Isolde is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig – February 13, 1883 in Venice) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his groundbreaking symphonic-operas (or music dramas). His compositions are notable for their continuous contrapuntal texture, rich harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate... The American soprano Eileen Farrell (February 13, 1920 - March 16, 2002) was a famous opera and concert singer. ... The New York Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in New York City. ...

Composition Style

De Sabata's compostions are written in a late-romantic style reminiscent of Respighi and Richard Strauss. They were quite successful in the 1920s but are little-known today. One reason may be that De Sabata did relatively little to perform and publicize his own works, preferring that his music should succeed or fail on its own merits Ottorino Respighi (born in Bologna on July 9, 1879, died in Rome on April 18, 1936) was an Italian composer and musicologist. ... Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864 – September 8, 1949) was a German composer of the late Romantic era, particularly noted for his tone poems and operas. ... Sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or primarily in North America and in Australia as the Roaring Twenties . In Europe it is sometimes refered to as the Golden Twenties. ...

List of Notable Compositions

• Il macigno (opera, 1917)

• Juventus (symphonic poem for orchestra, 1919)

• La notte di Platon (for orchestra, 1923)

• Gethsemani (for orchestra, 1925)

1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

External links

• AMG AllMusic entry