Cigarette case that belonged to Arturo Toscanini, 1921

Cigarette case, belonged to ARTURO TOSCANINI (Parma 1867- Riverdale-New York-USA 1957). The cigarette case, made of nickel silver (or Alpacca), bears the following dedication "A. Toscanini from S.U.F.G. Louisville - Kentucky, USA" on the front of the upper lid.

The confirmation of the belonging of this extraordinary cigarette case to Arturo Toscanini is supported by the presence of a letter signed by his daughter Wally, on which she writes that she wants to donate this little one to a gentleman named Sergio (certainly a dear person, very close to her). cigarette case together with the biography "Toscanini Seen by a Critic" by Andrea della Corte published in 1958, also underlining that he had included on page 171 of the book, the episode in which his father was honored with this cigarette case by some admirers, in 1921.

Rare personal heirloom that belonged to the great Arturo Toscanini. There are very few of his objects preserved in museums and only a few in private international collections.

Arturo Toscanini is considered one of the greatest conductors of every era, for the homogeneity and brilliant intensity of the sound, the phenomenal attention to detail, the tireless perfectionism and the conducting without a score thanks to his prodigious memory. He is considered in particular one of the most authoritative interpreters of Verdi, Beethoven, Brahms and Wagner with whom he had a close collaboration. He was one of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and first half of the 20th century, gaining international fame thanks to his radio and television broadcasts, as well as his numerous recordings as musical director of the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

In Milan there is the "A.Toscanini" Birthplace Museum, located in Via Durini, where some of his personal memorabilia are preserved.