In honour of the most influential conductor of classical music who in his interpretations also remained faithful to the composer: the new “Montblanc Donation Pen Arturo Toscanini“ in black precious resin and platinised fittings pays homage to the musician who started as a young cellist and, in one single appearance, became one of the greatest maestri as conductor: Arturo Toscanini. In line with his commitment to help talented young people, part of the sales revenue of the “Donation Pen Arturo Toscanini“ will go towards promoting talented young musicians.
Dedicated as it is to one of the oldest cultural forms – writing – , Montblanc has long committed itself to preserving and developing cultural values. The Montblanc Donation Pens belong to the numerous international projects in art, theatre and music which Montblanc actively supports. These exclusive writing-instrument editions honour outstanding conductors and musicians of the past and at the same time promote musical talents of the future.
Arturo Toscanini’s active musical life (born in 1867, died in 1957) lasted seven decades, his repertoire covered more than 480 works for the concert hall and about one hundred operas. Toscanini celebrated his first triumph in 1886 on a tour of South America, when he had to stand in for the conductor, who had just been dismissed, a few minutes before a performance of ‘Aida’. The 19-year-old cello student had never before conducted an opera. He did not have a music score in front of him, only an extract of the piano accompaniment. Toscanini picked up the baton and conducted from memory – it was the beginning of an incomparable career.
Already at that time, Toscanini knew 50 operas by heart. He always amazed his orchestras by correcting the smallest printing errors in the instrumental parts. His extreme punctiliousness, his strict discipline at work and his unwavering striving for perfection were uncompromising.
These high musical demands opened for Arturo Toscanini the doors to the leading opera houses around the world. In 1898, Toscanini became musical director of the Scala in Milan, later he conducted at festivals in Bayreuth and Salzburg, at the New York Metropolitan Opera, in Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires and Vienna, while always returning to Milan. In 1937, at the summit of his fame, Toscanini, as chief conductor of an orchestra especially founded for him in New York, turned to the new media of radio and records and captivated millions of people every week sitting in front of their radio sets.
When Arturo Toscanini died in New York in 1957, aged almost 90 years, he had revolutionised the world of classsical music and prepared the way for aspiring young musicians such as the violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin and the soprano Renata Tebaldi. A way which Montblanc is following into the future with the Donation Pen “Arturo Toscanini.”
The multi-faceted genius of Toscaninis is reflected in the design of these exclusive Montblanc writing instruments: jet-black precious resin and platinised fittings with clear lines and harmoniously matching proportions pay tribute to the perfectionism of the great maestro.
Toscanini’s early career as an outstanding cellist is recalled in the clip, which is shaped like the strings and tailpiece of a violoncello and enriched by the maestro’s signature engraved on the cap ring. And, as with the previous Donation Pens, the hand-crafted, rhodinised 18-carat gold nib of the fountain-pen is embellished with a fine engraving.
The Edition is enriched with a bronze medal with a portrait of Toscanini according to a relief by Leonardo Bistolfi. On the reverse side, there are the signature and dates of this brilliant conductor.
The Montblanc Donation Pen ‘Arturo Toscanini’ will be available as fountain-pen and ballpoint pen in more than 360 Montblanc boutiques and from selected trade partners around the world.
