Arturo Toscanini

The young hero, Frederick, is leaving his country home and going to the city to attend the bull fight, and while there he meets and woos a beautiful maiden, forgetting his own little sweetheart at home.

Familiar radio voice Ben Grauer leads the viewer on a behind the scenes tour of the National Broadcasting Company studios -- both radio and television -- in Rockefeller Center and Hollywood. The original 25-minute film previewed by network execs and affiliates in the fall of 1948 was cut down to 20 minutes before its first broadcast, reportedly to excise high-profile stars and programs such as Amos 'n' Andy, Jack Benny, and Edgar Bergen that had since left NBC for other networks.

The historic Toscanini television concerts with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. This concert, broadcast in two parts, on 26 March and 2 April 1949, from NBC Studio 8H, features the opera "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi. (Both broadcasts were released as "Vol. 3" in the DVD series.)

The historic Toscanini television concerts with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Broadcast #1 was of a concert on March 20, 1948, at NBC Studio 8H, featuring orchestral music from Wagner's operas. (Concerts #1 and #2 were released on "Vol. 1" in the DVD series.)

The historic Toscanini television concerts with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Broadcast #7 was of a concert on December 29, 1951 from Carnegie Hall, featuring music from Wagner's operas. (Concerts #6 and #7 were released as "Vol. 4" in the DVD series.)

The historic Toscanini television concerts with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Broadcast #3 was of a concert on December 4, 1948, at NBC Studio 8H, featuring Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G minor K550; Dvorak's Symphonic Variations op78; and Wagner's Overture to Tannhäuser. (Concerts #3 and #4 were released on "Vol. 2" in the DVD series.)

The historic Toscanini television concerts with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Broadcast #3 was of a concert on November 13, 1948, at NBC Studio 8H, featuring Brahms's Concerto for Violin, Cello & Orchestra, A minor op102; Liebeslieder-Walzer op52; and the Hungarian Dance #1 in G minor. (Concerts #3 and #4 were released on "Vol. 2" in the DVD series.)

To hear is not the same as seeing and hearing! To watch Maestro Toscanini conduct this opera is a revelation. This man is a direct link to Verdi, Puccini and other great opera composers. He did the premier performances of many major operas. His tempos, phrasing, etc. must be considered definitive. I was mesmerized from start to finish. One will forget the soft black and white, and sometimes blurred images, the lack of subtitles, and the relatively limited sound frequency range, as the focus will be on what Toscanini is doing on the podium. Richard Tucker -- what can I say about Mr. Tucker? His performance was wonderful, clear, nuanced.