Hymn of the Nations: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:06, 8 February 2007

Revision as of 16:34, 26 April 2007

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| editing =

| distributor = [[United States Office of War Information|US Office of War Information]]

| released = [[February]] [[1944]]

| runtime = 31 min.

| country = [[United States|USA]]

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Originally titled ''Arturo Toscanini'', '''''Hymn of the Nations''''' ([[1944 in film|1944]]), a film directed by [[Alexander Hammid]], features a curious, patriotic work for tenor soloist, chorus, and orchestra, composed by Italian [[opera]] composer [[Giuseppe Verdi]] in the early-[[1860s]]. For this musical work, Verdi utilized the [[national anthem]]s of several European nations.

In 1944December 1943, [[Arturo Toscanini]] revived the work for inclusion in an [[Office of War Information]] documentary, directed by [[Alexander Hammid]], about the role of Italian-Americans in aiding the Allies during [[World War II]]. Toscanini added a bridge passion to include arrangements of the anthems of the United States and the Soviet Union. Joining Toscanini in the filmed performance, in NBC Studio 8-H, were tenor [[Jan Peerce]], the [[Westminster Choir]], and the [[NBC Symphony Orchestra]].

The film also included the overture to Verdi's opera ''[[La Forza del Destino]]''. The narration was written by [[May Sarton]], film editing by [[Boris Kaufman]], original narration read by Knox Manning and alternative narration read by actor [[Burgess Meredith]]. The original version was released on VHS by [[Blackhawk Films]], where it acquired its current title. A newly restored version by the [[Library of Congress]], with the Meredith narration, has been issued on DVD.