Anton Torello
Encyclopedia
Anton Torello was a Catalan
Double Bass
player. He was principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra
(1914–1948), and was the first bass professor at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute. He taught what became the Philadelphia school of Double Bass playing - strongly influencing American bass playing.
recalls this anecdote about Torello's early schooling in talking about experimental fingerings:
Torello’s professional orchestral career began in 1897. His first solo concert followed the next year. By 22 he was already professor at Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu
and principal in the orchestra in Liceu.
as principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra
in 1914.
Anton Torello had two sons, Carl and William, both of which were double bassists who played in the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Anton remained as principal bass in Philadelphia until 1948. After retirement he moved to Los Angeles where he continued to play with the resident orchestra of Paramount Studios.
Notable Students include:
In October 1920, Torello shared a recital with Metropolitan Opera basso Jose Mardones that received mention in the New York Times -
In addition to this repertoire, Torello also performed with Mardones in Mozart's Aria "Per Questa Bella Mano."
interesting note: Torello use of his three stringed solo instrument was at a time when performance on three stringed instruments had mostly disappeared (most of these instruments having been converted into four string instruments)
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
Double Bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
player. He was principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
(1914–1948), and was the first bass professor at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute. He taught what became the Philadelphia school of Double Bass playing - strongly influencing American bass playing.
Studies and Early Career
Anton Torello began studying double bass with his father and his older brother Peter. Warren BenfieldWarren Benfield
Warren A. Benfield was a Classical Double Bass player. He enjoyed a long career in the bass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was professor at Northwestern University.-Studies and Orchestral Career:...
recalls this anecdote about Torello's early schooling in talking about experimental fingerings:
The late Anton Torello… once said that when he was a student in Barcelona (his whole family were bass players) he wasn’t given anything to eat until he knew his lesson. Sometimes he got very hungry. What he would do to learn etudes was to develop his fingerings. He would work out as many ways as possible to play a passage and learn them all. Then he would put his music away for a day or two, and when he tried all the fingerings again, one was usually clearly better than the others.
Torello’s professional orchestral career began in 1897. His first solo concert followed the next year. By 22 he was already professor at Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu
Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu
Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu is a music college in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was created in 1837 with the name Liceo Filo-dramático de Montesión....
and principal in the orchestra in Liceu.
Move to America, Philadelphia
In 1909, Torello moved to the United States of America. He found work first in New York and later as principal bass in an opera orchestra in Boston before being hired by Leopold StokowskiLeopold Stokowski
Leopold Anthony Stokowski was a British-born, naturalised American orchestral conductor, well known for his free-hand performing style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from many of the great orchestras he conducted.In America, Stokowski...
as principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
in 1914.
Anton Torello had two sons, Carl and William, both of which were double bassists who played in the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Anton remained as principal bass in Philadelphia until 1948. After retirement he moved to Los Angeles where he continued to play with the resident orchestra of Paramount Studios.
Curtis, Notable students
Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute was established in 1924. Torello joined the faculty as its first double bass professor in 1926. Part of his legacy was in introducing the over-handed style of bowing (“French bow”) to America. A number of Torello’s students at Curtis went on to become important figures in double bass in America.Notable Students include:
- Roger Scott- succeeded Torello as both principal bass in Philadelphia and Professor at the Curtis Institute
- Oscar G. ZimmermanOscar G. ZimmermanOscar G. Zimmerman was an American musician, teacher and double-bass player.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1910, Oscar Zimmerman was the double bassist with the Rochester Philharmonic for 36 years and professor emeritus at Eastman, was a member of the first graduating class of...
- principal bass Rochester Philharmonic, professor Eastman School of MusicEastman School of MusicThe Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester... - Warren BenfieldWarren BenfieldWarren A. Benfield was a Classical Double Bass player. He enjoyed a long career in the bass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was professor at Northwestern University.-Studies and Orchestral Career:...
- Chicago Symphony OrchestraChicago Symphony OrchestraThe Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
, professor NorthwesternNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
and DePaulDepaulDepaul, de Paul or DePaul may refer to:* DePaul University, is the largest Catholic university in North America located within and around Chicago, IL* Vincent de Paul* DePaul Catholic High School...
Universities - Henry Portnoi - Principal Bass Boston Symphony OrchestraBoston Symphony OrchestraThe Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
, Professor New England Conservatory and Boston UniversityBoston UniversityBoston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers... - Jacques Posell - Principal Bass Cleveland OrchestraCleveland OrchestraThe Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
Performances
Torello performed solo recials, chamber works and also appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra (27–28 February 1920 - performing Lorenziti's Concerto for viola 'amore & double bass with Thaddeus Rich)In October 1920, Torello shared a recital with Metropolitan Opera basso Jose Mardones that received mention in the New York Times -
Mr. Torello in an accomplished virtuoso on his instrument. He uses a small-sized double bass with three strings, whose tone on the highest one approximates that of the ‘cello. … Mr. (Torello) played a Fantasy of his own, and pieces by Ghere, Kussewitzky, Valls, Franchi and Bottesini (arranged by himself)
In addition to this repertoire, Torello also performed with Mardones in Mozart's Aria "Per Questa Bella Mano."
interesting note: Torello use of his three stringed solo instrument was at a time when performance on three stringed instruments had mostly disappeared (most of these instruments having been converted into four string instruments)