Overview
Biography
Tullio Serafin(1 September 1878 – 2 February 1968) was an Italian conductor.
Biography
Tullio Serafin was a leading Italian opera conductor with a long career and a very broad repertoire who revived many 19th-century bel cantooperas by Bellini, Rossiniand Donizettito become staples of 20th-century repertoire. He had an unparalleled reputation as a coach of young opera singers and famously harnessed and developed Maria Callas's considerable talents.
Born in Rottanova (Cavarzere), near Venice, and trained in Milan, he played violain the Orchestra of La Scala, Milanunder Arturo Toscanini, later being appointed Assistant Conductor. He took over as Music Director at La Scala when Toscanini left to go to New York, and served 1909–1914, 1917–1918, and returned briefly after the Second World War, 1946 -1947.
He joined the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Operain 1924, and remained for a decade, after which he became the artistic director of the Teatro Realein Rome. During his long career he helped further the careers of many important singers, including Rosa Ponselle, Magda Olivero, Joan Sutherland, and most notably Maria Callas, with whom he collaborated on many recordings.
Serafin was instrumental in expanding the repertory, conducting the Italian premieres of works by Alban Berg, Paul Dukas, and Benjamin Britten. He also conducted important world premieres by both Italian and American composers, such as Franco Alfano, Italo Montemezzi, Deems Taylor, and Howard Hanson. His goddaughter was the soprano Claudia Pinza Bozzolla.
