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Information About

Tullio Serafin





BIOGRAPHY

Serafin was born in Venice .

He played Viola in the Orchestra of La Scala, Milan under Toscanini , later being appointed Assistant Conductor. In 1909 he took over as Musical Director at La Scala when Toscanini left to go to New York . He remained in this position with one interruption caused by World War I , until the opera house closed down temporarily in 1918 .

He joined the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Opera in 1924 and remained for a decade, after which he became the artistic director of the Teatro Reale in Rome . During his long career he helped further the careers of many important singers, including Rosa Ponselle and Joan Sutherland , and made numerous recordings, including several with Maria Callas . He conducted the Orchestra of the Rome Opera House in tenor Jon Vickers' highly acclaimed first recording of Verdi's "Otello", made by RCA Victor in 1960. Serafin was instrumental in expanding the repertory, conducting the Italian premieres of works by Alban Berg , Paul Dukas , and Benjamin Britten .

He also conducted important world premieres by both Italian and American composers such as Franco Alfano , Italo Montemezzi , Deems Taylor , and Howard Hanson .

He died in Rome in 1968.


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