Hymn of the Nations
Commissioned by the U.S. Office of War Information, this short film features conductor Arturo Toscanini leading the NBC Symphony Orchestra, tenor Jan Peerce, and the Westminster Choir in Verdi’s Inno delle nazioni. Originally composed in the 1860s as a musical tribute to Europe, Toscanini expanded the score to include The Star-Spangled Banner and The Internationale in honor of the Allied struggle and Italian partisans. Filmed in NBC’s Studio 8H, the documentary interweaves performance with scenes of Toscanini at home, emphasizing his anti-fascist stance and celebrating the liberation of Italy. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2010.
Directed by Alexander Hammid · Written by May Sarton
Where to Watch
Rent or Buy
Cast
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Arturo Toscanini Himself - Jan Peerce Himself/Host
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Burgess Meredith Narrator (voice) - Walfredo Toscanini Himself
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Knox Manning Himself - The Westminister Choir Themselves
Make it a double feature
45m together
Hymn of the Nations
Meshes of the Afternoon
Both from Alexander Hammid.
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