He was born in Rotonova, Italy on 01/01/1878. He revived various forgotten operas of Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti and incorporated them in his repertory. He helped many young at the time singers who later became famous to gain a reputation. Among them are Rosa Ponselle, Magda Olivero, Joan Sutherland and Maria Callas with whom he made made recordings. While studying composition and the violin at the Milan Conservatory he also played the viola at the Teatro alla Scala [Scala of Milan] under the Arturo Toscanini. He first appearance as conductor was in Ferrara (1889). He worked as assistant to the conductor of the Scala of Milan and after the emigration of Toscanini to the United States of America, he took over the theater’s directorship (1909-14, 1917-18, 1946-47). Between 1924-34 he conducted the New York Metropolitan Opera orchestra. He later became artistic director of the Teatro Reale dell'Opera in Rome [Royal Opera House]. He conducted the first american performances of Turandot, Simon Boccanegra as well as lyric works by Mussorgsky, Manuel de Falla and Giordano. He presented for the first time to the italian public the wangnerian tetralogy The Ring of the Nibelung [Der Ring des Nibelungen] and the opera Wozzeck by Berg as well as works by Dukas and Britten. He also conducted the first presentations of the works of italian composers (Franco Alfano, Italo Montemazzi) and of american composers (Deems Taylor, Howard Hanson). He has a rich track of recordings (EMI, RCA, Riccordi, Philips, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon). He recorded operas of Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Leoncavallo and Bellini, interpreted by top composers of the mid 20th century (Callas, Tebaldi, Di Stefano, Bergonzi, Gobbi). He died on 02/02/1968. He collaborated with the Greek National Opera (GNO) once, when he conducted the production of Norma with Maria Callas (Epidaurus, 1960). // Last update of the biography: November 2018 - The list of the productions below is complete.