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tours the Nation ; NBC Symphony Almost from his birth in Pai-ma, Italy, on March 25, 1867, Arturo Toscanini has been imbued with a dual passion for fine music and democratic ideals. At the completion of his early school- ing, the youthful Toscanini attended the Conservatory at Parma studying the cello and musical theory. As first cellist of an Italian opera company he jour- neyed to South America. As events were to develop, this journey to the western hemisphere was to be the turning point leading to long and busy years of con- stantly greater prestige and to a position of universal acclaim. The episode which was to set the pat- tern for the young cellist's career took place in Rio de Janeiro during one of the opera performances in that country. The regular conductor of the orchestra had a disagreement with the musicians and re- fvised to go on with a scheduled perform- ance of "Aida". Toscanini, then only 19, but already recognized as an assiduous student of operatic scores, was prevailed upon to act as a substitute director. Despite occasional appearances as a conductor, Toscanini remained essential- ly a cellist until 1892, when he was in- vited to conduct the world premiere of Leoncavallo's opera, "I Pagliacci". Later he introduced Wagner's "Gottcrdam- merung" in Italy, and was the first to conduct Puccini's "La Boheme". Word of the great talents of this 2.5- year-old genius spread rapidly through- out Italy. Four years later he was invited to conduct at the great La Scala Opera House in Milan. Thereafter, for more than 30 years, Toscanini continued to be one of the leading lights of La Scala and was responsible for the intro- duction of many operas and symphonies. In 1908, Toscanini came to America and joined the Metropolitan Opera. There he remained for seven seasons after which he returned to his homeland. In 1921, he came back to the United States and from 1926 to 19.S6 served as director of the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. At the age of 69. at the peak of his fame, he decided to retire but Brig. General David Sarnoff and Samuel Chotzinoff, having in mind the formation of an outstanding symphony orchestra for radio broadcasting, induced the Maestro to assume the leadership of the new group. Toscanini accepted the offer and on Christmas night, 1937, directed the NBC Symphony Orchestra in its first coast-to-coast broadcast, an event which was heralded as an historic event in American musical annals. Since that time, the saga of Toscanini has grown along with the stature of the Orchestra.