Bolognini, Remo, 1898-1977

Member of the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

Remo Bolognini (1898-1977), a South American violinist who immigrated to the United States, perhaps was best known for his association with the conductor Arturo Toscanini, first with the New York Philharmonic (1931-1935), and later, with the NBC Symphony Orchestra.

Born in Buenos Aires to a musical family, Bolognini became a pupil of Hércules Galvani at the age of seven. After six years of study, Bolognini's first recital, when he was only thirteen, created a sensation in South American music circles. As a child, Remo and his brothers formed a classical orchestra that performed for three years at the Palace Theatre in Buenos Aires and a youthful Remo later became concert master of the Buenos Aires Philharmonic. In 1927 Bolognini made his debut in the United States with the Chicago Symphony orchestra under Frederick Stock, but soon after went to Europe, where he studied with Eugène Ysaÿe and performed as a soloist. While in Europe, Bolognini was heard by Toscanini, who engaged him for the New York Philharmonic. Bolognini became assistant concert master for NBC Symphony Orchestra, which had been established in 1937 as a vehicle for the conductor. Bolognini would remain with the orchestra througout Toscanini's tenure, but served as an assistant concert master and assistant conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra during the 1950s. Later in life, Bolognini returned to New York and played as a substitute in the violin section of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Remo Bolognini, generally regarded as South America's greatest violinist, was born in Buenos Aires. At the age of seven he started on his musical career by becoming a pupil of Galvani, the foremost violin teacher in the Argentine metropolis. After six years of study under Galvani, Bolognini's first recital, when he was only thirteen, created a sensation in South American music circles. As a child, he and his brother Astor and Alberto Castellano formed a classical orchestra that performed for three years at the Palace Theatre in Buenos Aires. In Buenos Aires Bolognini became concert master, under Kleiber and Ansermet, of the Philharmonic Orchestra there, and he also appeared as soloist. In 1927 Bolognini made his debut in the United States as assistant concert master of the Chicago Symphony orchestra under Frederick Stock. His first appearance as soloist with the Chicago orchestra was in the Max Bruch concerto. After two years Bolognini went to Europe and there was heard by Ysaye, a famous Belgian violinist. Two years of study with Ysaye were interspersed with concerts at the Hague, Cologne, Rotterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Paris and London. While in Europe, Bolognini was heard by Toscanini, who engaged him to be second concert master and to appear as soloist with his orchestra. Remo Bolognini joined NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1937. The NBC Symphony Orchestra was an orchestra established in 1937 by General David Sarnoff of NBC as a vehicle for conductor Arturo Toscanini. Sarnoff spared no expense in recruiting and training the orchestra. Artur Rodziski, a noted disciplinarian and task master in his own right, was hired to train the new orchestra especially for Toscanini. The French conductor Pierre Monteux was hired, as well, to help in the effort. It has been alleged that one of the purposes of creating the orchestra was to deflect a Congressional inquiry into broadcasting standards. Under Toscanini's direction, the orchestra's first broadcast concert aired from NBC's Studio 8H on Christmas Day, 1937. In addition to weekly broadcasts on the NBC Red and Blue networks, the NBC Symphony Orchestra made many recordings of symphonies, choral music, and operas. Televised concerts began in 1948. Toscanini led the NBC Symphony for 17 years. Under his direction the orchestra toured South America in 1940 and the USA in 1950.