SIR JOHN BARBIROLLI - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH 1949 - HFSID 161251

SIR JOHN BARBIROLLI
Small 3½x5½ b/w photo of conductor Sir John Barbirolli from the chest up and in a tux, signed and dated in 1949
Photograph signed "John Barbirolli/1949." in white ink. Black ink stamp on verso in unknown hand. B/w, 3½x5½ overall, 3x5¼ image, one surface. British maestro Barbirolli (1899-1970), who was born into a family of Italian musicians (his father conducted the Empire Theatre Orchestra and his grandfather was a concert violinist), began his musical career as a violinist and cellist. At age 16, he became the youngest member of the Queen's Hall Orchestra. In 1926, he formed the Barbirolli String Orchestra, beginning his career as a conductor. That year, he was also named conductor of the Scottish National Orchestra and the Northern Philharmonic of Leeds. In 1936, he was asked to succeed Arturo Toscanini as conductor of the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra for a seven-week trial period. Barbirolli remained with the orchestra until 1943, returning to England that year to conduct the Hallé Orchestra (1943-1968), which he developed into Europe's finest orchestra. He retired from the Hallé Orchestra as Conductor Laureate for Life. Barbirolli also guest conducted the Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver symphony orchestras and succeeded Leopold Stokowski as conductor of the Houston Symphony (1960-1967). Barbirolli, who was knighted in 1949, also made numerous recordings, conducting both opera and concert programs. Lightly toned, creased and bowed, otherwise in fine condition.