About the project

November 9, 2017 – April 16, 2018

Toscanini: Preserving a Legacy in Sound drew foremost upon the Toscanini Legacy collection of sound recordings, the single largest collection held by the Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The over 43,000 items represent the full array of audio formats in use during Toscanini’s lifetime, including lacquer, shellac, and vinyl discs, tape reels, cylinders, and wire recordings as well as the more obscure Selenophone recordings.

The gallery was made up of four sections: The first was a parallel timeline of Toscanini’s life and the history of recorded sound, which wrapped around the gallery walls. The second was made up of several stations, each featuring a recording sound instrument accompanied by videos demonstrating how the library preserves sound on that instrument. I produced the videos along with the curator and the Theatre on Film and Tape staff. The third section was a preservation station, where the impressive Toscanini tape collection was on display. Staff was scheduled in shifts to do live preservation in the gallery. Patrons were welcome to ask questions and observe. They could also try playing a record or reading a book from Toscanini’s personal collection. The fourth and final section was an antique radio playing selections from the NBC Symphony Orchestra. During the run of the exhibition, free public programs were held in the space for a more in-depth look and listen to Toscanini’s radio career.

Graphic and Exhibition Designer

Photography by Jonathan Blanc