Alfredo Antonini (May 31, 1901 – November 3, 1983) was a leading Italian-American symphony conductor and composer who was active on the international concert stage as well as on the CBS radio and television networks from the 1930s through the early 1970s.The New York Times, July 2, 1948, pg. 24The New York Times, October 5, 1948, pg. 30The New York Times, April 25, 1957, pg. 34The New York Times, February 12, 1960, pg. 22 In 1972 he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Religious Programming on television for his conducting of the premiere of Ezra Laderman's opera And David Wept for CBS television during 1971.Entertainment Awards Don Franks. McFarland and Co., London, 2005 p. 394 Emmy Awards 1972 Outstanding Achievement in Religious Programming – Alfredo Antonini on https://books.google.com In addition, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1980.

Biography Antonini was born in Alessandria and pursued his musical studies at the Royal Conservatory in Milan. He was a student of the Italian conductor Arturo Toscanini, whom he first met at the age of thirteen while performing on the celesta in the Italian premier of Igor Stravinsky's Petrouchka.New York Public Library Research Catalogue: "Interview With Alfredo Antonini" Grauer, Ben. 10 June 1963 Alfredo Antonini on nypl.org/research-catalog He distinguished himself as both an organist and pianist with La Scala Orchestra in Milan prior to emigrating to the United States in 1929.Latin American Music – Alfredo Antonini and Viva America orchestra. H. Royer Smith Co., Philadelphia, PA, Vol. 14, No. 8 October 1946, pp. 6–7 Latin American Music – Alfredo Antonini and Viva America Orchestra critical review of the album and brief biography of Antonini in The New Records, pp. 6–7 on archive.org. Accessed 29 December 2022. His musical talents were shared by his father who served as a member of the Buenos Aires Opera company at the Teatro Colón after leaving Italy for Argentina.The New Records: Latin American Music Review, October 1946, p. 7. Accessed 29 December 2022. In addition, his wife Sandra was a both a piano accompanist and voice teacher.Alfredo, Sandra Antonini to give concert as gift to community St. Petersburg Times, April 19, 1980 p. 54 on Google Books]

Early career Upon his arrival in America, Antonini emerged as an accompanist on the piano for the operatic tenor Edoardo Ferrari-Fontana. During the late 1920s he also served as the musical director of the Fifth Avenue Playhouse Group of cinemas, which showcased foreign films from Europe for American audiences.Jacobs Orchestra Monthly Walter Jacobs publisher. Vol 20, March, 1929 "Spotlight on Antonini" p. 53 Alfredo Antonini on google Books For three years, Antonini composed and arranged musical scores for various productions which originated in both Sweden and Russia while also serving as the musical director at the Little Carnegie Playhouse. During this time he also conducted his own orchestral ensemble each week on the radio for WHN. Years later in 1939, he hosted a weekly program in collaboration with Harry Kramer on the Mutual Broadcasting System radio network which featured his Alfredo Antonini Orchestra in performances of both classical and popular songs of the era.

During the 1940s, he distinguished himself as a conductor of several leading orchestras while performing on CBS Radio. These included: the CBS Pan American Orchestra (1940–1949), as part of the cultural diplomacy initiative of the Department of State and the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs during World War II, the Columbia Concert Orchestra (1940–1949) and the CBS Symphony Orchestra.Media Sound & Culture in Latin America & the Caribbean (eds. Bronfman, Alejandra & Wood, Andrew Grant). University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2012, pp. 48–49 Alfredo Antonini & The CBS Pan American Orchestra (see pp. 48–49), books.google.com. Accessed 29 December 2022. During the 1940s Antonini also led the CBS Symphony Orchestra in several recordings for the Voice of America broadcasting service.

His performances with the CBS Pan American Orchestra were noteworthy for helping to introduce Latin American music and the Mexican bolero to large audiences in the United States.Media Sound & Culture in Latin America & the Caribbean (eds. Bronfman, Alejandra & Wood, Andrew Grant). University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, 2012, p. 49 Alfredo Antonini, CBS Pan American Orchestra Latin American Music, books.google.com. Accessed 29 December 2022.

The 1940s: Radio

During the 1940s Antonini conducted live radio broadcasts of the program Viva America on the CBS Radio and La Cadena de las Americas (Network of the Americas) in collaboration with several international artists including: Nestor Mesta Chayres (aka "El Gitano De Mexico"), Terig Tucci, Juan Arvizu (aka "El Troubador de las Americas"), Elsa Miranda ,"Banana E.T. Proves Good Eating for Elsa Miranda", Billboard, 2 February 1946, p. 4 "Elsa Miranda and the radio show Viva America" on https://books.google.com Eva Garza,Eva Garza biography, The Strachwitz Frontera collection of Mexican and Mexican American Recordings on frontera.library.ucla.edu. Accessed 29 December 2022.Deborah R. Vargas. Dissonant Divas in Chicana Music: The Limits of La Onda, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 2012, pp. 155-157; Kate Smith,Photograph of actor Pat O'Brien and singer Kate Smith on the Viva America program for CBS Radio on Getty Images.com Pat O'Brien,Photograph of actor Pat O'Brien and singer Kate Smith on the Viva America program for CBS Radio on Getty Images.com and John Serry.Eastman School of Music – University of Rochester – Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection Autographed Photograph of John Serry accordionist on CBS' C de Las A program circa 1940s p. 3, Series 3, Collection Box 3, Item 1: The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester Eastman School of Music The New York Times, 9 June 1946, p. 49.Media Sound & Culture in Latin America & the Caribbean (eds Bronfman, Alejandra & Wood, Andrew Grant). University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, 2012, p. 49 https://books.google.com See p. 49. Accessed 29 December 2022. He also appeared with Chayres and the New York Philharmonic in the Night of the Americas Concert series at Carnegie Hall,The New York Times, 12 May 1946, p. 42 which, according to The New York Times, was eagerly anticipated by the general public.The New York Times, 17 May 1947, p. 8The New York Times, 4 May 1950, p. 37 Additional performances in collaboration with Arvizu and the CBS Tipica Orchestra for the Inter-America Music Fiesta at Carnegie Hall also attracted widespread acclaim.The New York Times, 27 October 1941, p. 21The New York Times, 1 February 1942, p. D2

In 1946, Antonini recorded several popular Latin American songs on the album Latin American Music – Alfredo Antonini and Viva America Orchestra for Alpha Records (catalogue #'s 12205A, 12205B, 12206A, 12206B) including: Tres Palabras (Osvaldo Farres), Caminito de Tu Casa (Julio Alberto Hernández), Chapinita (Miguel Sandoval) and Noche De Ronda (Augustin Lara).Billboard: "Advanced Record Releases – Alfredo Antonini and Viva America Orchestra", New York, Vol. 58 No. 14, 6 April 1946, pp. 34, 130 Latin American Music – Alfredo Antonini and Viva America Orchestra in Billboard, books.google.com. Accessed 29 December 2022.Latin American Music catalog.loc.gov. Accessed 29 December 2022. Critical review of the albums in The New Records praised his conducting talents and hailed the collection as among the best new albums of Latin American music.The New Records. Latin American Music – Alfredo Antonini and Viva America orchestra H. Royer Smith Co., Philadelphia, PA, Vol. 14, No. 8 October 1946, pp. 6-7Latin American Music – Alfredo Antonini and Viva America Orchestra critical review of the album in The New Records (pp. 6–7), archive.org. Accessed 29 December 2022.

Later in the 1940s, Antonini collaborated with vocalist Victoria Cordova in a series of recordings for Muzak, featuring compositions familiar to audiences in both North and South America. Included among these were: What a Difference a Day Made – Maria Grever, You Belong to My Heart – Agustin Lara, Siboney – Ernesto Lecuona, Amor – Gabriel Ruiz, Say It Isn't So – Irving Berlin, How Deep is the Ocean – Irving Berlin and A Perfect Day – Carrie Jacobs-Bond."Victoria Cordova" and Alfredo Antonini Orchestra sound recording for Muzak archived in The Library of Congress Online Catalog at catalog.loc.gov. Accessed 29 December 2022."Victoria Cordova" and Alfredo Antonini Orcehatra sound recording for Muzak archived in the Library of Congress Online Catalog at catalog.loc.gov. Accessed 29 December 2022.Victoria Cordova and Alfredo Antonini Orchestra sound recording for Muzak #1, catalog.loc.gov. Accessed 29 December 2022.Victoria Cordova and Alfredo Antonini Orchestra sound recording for Muzak #2, catalog.loc.gov. Accessed 29 December 2022. He also collaborated with the Latin group Los Panchos Trio in a recording of the Chilean cueca dance La Palma for Pilotone records (#P45-5067). "La Palma" performed by Los Panchos Trio, Alfredo Antonini and the Viva America Orchestra on archive.org. Accessed 29 December 2022. In addition, he recorded several songs for Columbia records with operatic baritone Carlo Morelli which included "La spagnola" (#17192-D), Alma Mia (#17192-D) Canta Il Mare (#17263-D), Si Alguna Vez (#17263-D).Vocalist Baritone Carlo Morelli and Alfredo Antonini in performance on archive.org Additional collaborators included: Nino Martini for a recording of the song Amapola (Columbia, #17202-D)Amapola performed by Nino Martini and Alfredo Antonini on archive.org. Accessed 29 December 2022. and Nestor Chayres for a recording of Granada (Decca, #23770 A).Granada performed by Nestor Chayres and Alfredo Antonini, archive.org. Accessed 29 December 2022.

At the close of the decade in 1948, Antonini also appeared as the conductor in the premier program of the CBS Symphony Summer Series which was broadcast live over the CBS Radio network."Distinguished Conductors, Soloists, Premiers of American WorksSlated For Summer Series of CBS Symphony" Your Radio Listening Post April 23, 1948 p. 14 on Google Books During this time he also collaborated with leading orchestral musicians including Julius Baker,"Sunday Selections" Toledoo Blade, June 12, 1948 p. 65 on Google BooksThe New York Public Library Archives and manuscripts: "Voice of America Collection of Radio Broadcasts" June 13, 1948 Alfredo Antonini & Julius Baker on archives.nypl.org and Mitch Miller.The New York Public Library Archives and manuscripts: "Voice of America Collection of Radio Broadcasts" June 13, 1948 Alfredo Antonini & Mitch Miller on archives.nypl.org Several of his performances with the CBS Symphony Orchestra were also broadcast over the Voice of America network in 1948 and 1949.Alfredo Antonini conducts the CBS Symphony Orchestra on Voice of America archived at the New York Public Library on archives.nypl.org In addition, his recordings with the operatic vocalists Juan Arvizu and Nestor Mesta Chayres were transcribed during this time for broadcast by the Armed Forces Radio Network.The Directory of the Armed Forces Radio Service Mackenzie, Harry. Greenwood Press, London, 1999, p. 33 Alfredo Antonini, Juan Arvizu, Nestor Mesta Chayres on Google Books

The 1950s: Opera