[Introduction:]

Arturo Toscanini was born in the city of Parma, in Italy's fertile Po plain, on 25 March 1867. He was the oldest of four children and the only son of Paola (nee Montani) and Claudio Toscanini. Both parents came from middle-class families, but Claudio had the temperament of an adventurer and had gone off in his youth to fight in Garibaldi's forces during Italy's wars of independence and reunification. Thereafter, he never managed to settle down seriously to domestic life, and his drinking, philandering and general irresponsibility made life difficult for his wife and children. Arturo entered Parma's Royal School of Music at the age of nine and graduated from it at eighteen, with maximum honors in cello and composition and with a reputation, among local musicians, not only for his virtually photographic memory and other remarkable talents but also for his wide-ranging musical interests and passionately held ideals. The following year, he was engaged as principal cellist and assistant chorus master of an Italian opera company that was to tour South America, and one evening, at Rio de Janeiro, the nineteen-year-old musician was called upon at the last moment to replace the ensemble's regular conductor in Aida, which he led by heart. Thus began one of the most extraordinary careers in the history of musical performances.