Tuesday, June 14 at 7 pm. Celebrating all father figures in June, the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere presents Author Lucy Antel Johnson and her book: This was Toscanini. The Maestro, My Father, and Me. In-person & virtual event. Casa Belvedere, The Italian Cultural Foundation. 79 Howard Ave., Staten Island, NY 10301. Register for Toscanini in-person here. Register for Toscanini virtual here.

Samuel Antek, a first violinist with the acclaimed NBC Symphony Orchestra, captured for posterity what it was like to perform under the baton of the legendary Maestro Arturo Toscanini, widely considered the greatest conductor of the mid-20th century.

In his musical memoir, Antek takes readers behind the scenes during hundreds of rehearsals, concerts, tours and grueling recording sessions. He shares keen observations of Toscanini’s approach to music making, his unpredictable moods and passions, his relentless demands on himself and his musicians, and his unwavering dedication to faithfully interpreting composers’ works.

Now, Antek’s daughter, former television producer Lucy Antek Johnson, brings an expanded edition, THIS WAS TOSCANINI: The Maestro, My Father and Me, making Toscanini’s legacy available to new generations of students, musicians, music historians, and classical music fans.

Johnson’s new essays highlight her father’s rise from first violinist to conductor and musical director of major American orchestras, while sharing her own reflection of what it was like to grow up with a gifted father and the impact Toscanini had on their family and her father’s career. Johnson will sign books brought to the event; the book will also be available for sale at the event.

About the Author
LUCY ANTEK JOHNSON, Samuel Antek's daughter, was born and raised in New York City. After studying music, fine art, and ballet, she was drawn to the world of television production and spent her entire career in the entertainment industry, working with such producers as Martin Charnin, Harry Belafonte, David Susskind, and Roone Arledge. When she moved to Los Angeles in 1978, she produced movies for television, then joined NBC as a network executive. She soon worked her way up to senior vice president of daytime and children's programs for CBS, a position she held for 14 years. She paints, writes, and every so often gets up the nerve to sit at the piano and play a favorite Bach or Chopin prelude.