Biography
A temperamental and volatile Spanish-born pianist and conductor, his life and career were marked by variety and controversy. Born in Valencia, he was a child prodigy, performing piano recitals by age seven and supporting his family by playing up to 14 hours daily at a silent cinema. He graduated with honors from the Conservatoire de Musique in Paris and, by 24, held Franz Liszt's former position as head of the piano department at the Geneva Conservatory. In 1928, he debuted in London as a concert pianist, and the following year, performed Beethoven's G Major Concerto to critical and audience acclaim under Leopold Stokowski in Philadelphia. Expanding his career, he began conducting in 1933, eventually leading the Rochester Philharmonic and conducting his first opera in 1959. He achieved near pop star status, even attracting 1950s bobby-soxers to classical music, and became the only classical artist of his era to earn two gold records. In 1946, RCA-Victor paid him a record $118,029 for six months of royalties, mainly for his recording of Chopin's Polonaise in A-Flat, which sold 2 million copies by 1974.
A speed enthusiast, he rode motorcycles and sports cars recklessly, and when they weren’t fast enough, he flew his own plane, 'El Turia'. By 1946, he had logged 1,500 flight hours, frequently traveling across continents between performances. His numerous close calls earned him the nickname 'the flying fool'. His fiery temper was evident when he left the stage mid-performance in Cleveland due to noisy audience members eating hot dogs and drinking soda. Earlier, while conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra, he threw a chair onstage in frustration over the late arrival of the mayor and his entourage, gaining him another moniker, 'Turbulent Iturbi'. He also refused to appear with Benny Goodman on the same radio show, citing opposition to mixing jazz and classical music, and later declined to perform with Rosemary Clooney on television. Ironically, his film career featured him playing both classical and popular music styles, from boogie-woogie to honky tonk. Persuaded by producer Boris Pasternak to star in MGM musicals, he adapted effortlessly, always portraying himself. Films such as Anchors Aweigh (1945), where he conducted a 100-piece band during the opening march, and Three Daring Daughters (1948), allowed him notable self-expression. His sister, Amparo Iturbi (1899–1969), who often accompanied him in duo piano recitals, appeared in three of his films, including That Midnight Kiss (1949).
He was born on November 28, 1895, in Valencia, Spain, and died on June 28, 1980, at age 84 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
