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Maestro Maazel is presented with one of Maestro To...
Passing of the Baton: From Toscanini to Maazel
Feb 6, 2007On January 16, 2007, preceding a much-anticipated joint concert by the New York Philharmonic and the Symphonica Toscanini at Avery Fisher Hall, a ceremony was held at the Metropolitan Opera Club in memory of Maestro Arturo Toscanini and in honor of Maestro Lorin Maazel. The event was hosted by one of Symphonica Toscanini's major sponsors, Finmeccanica, represented by Fabio Dani, CEO of the company in United States. Roberta Marini of the De Plano Group was Master of Ceremonies.
In the presence of Maestro Toscanini's grandchildren, Emanuela di Castelbarco and Walfredo Toscanini, Italian Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta, Italian Consul General Antonio Bandini, and President of the Symphonica Toscanini Foundation Pia Elda Locatelli, Italian Minister of International Trade and Commerce Emma Bonino was chosen to hand one of Maestro Toscanini's original batons to Maestro Maazel.
After that evening's musical program brought a sold-out, stomping and cheering house to its feet, Maestro Maazel shared his gift with his excited audience, "I am very touched, very honored to have this as a gift, and I shall not tarnish the image of the great maestro by using it more than once, which would be now. We love you, Maestro, and know wherever you are, we are thinking of you."
He then led the Symphonica Toscanini in an encore of the Intermezzo from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana.
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