Along with Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven, Arturo Toscanini, an Italian immigrant to the United States, stands as one of the pre-eminent musicians of his age, a figure recognizable enough just from his last name. Toscanini was not a composed but an orchestral director – of the highest form, renowned for his keen ear for harmony and his impeccable visual memory. Toscanini departed his native Italy to the U.S. in 1919, just as the newly-launched radio broadcast stations were giving rise to the national broadcasters – CBS, ABC and NBC. The latter of which would come to employ him.

On this day, December 25, in 1937, Arturo Toscanini directed the NBC orchestra, musicians handpicked specifically to work under the master, in their performance of Vivaldi’s Concerto Grosso in D Minor. This was also the first the first time a live orchestra performed over the air.

NBC had wanted for some time to expand their cultural programming – the president of its parent company RCA said he felt disappointment at the lack of concerts, lectures and the like. Once Toscanini was on board, NBC lured some of the finest musicians from across the land. The final orchestra played ten concerts in their first season, and continued playing under the direction of Toscanini for seventeen more years, touring the world in between their radio performances.