Toscanini Conducts the Opening of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, by Walter Zadek. Tel Aviv, 1936

Photograph from the opening performance of the Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra on December 26th, 1936 at the Hall of the Levant Fair in Tel Aviv, with the internationally renowned conductor, Arturo Toscanini. Photographed by Walter Zadek.
In the mid 1930s, violinist Bronisław Huberman (1882-1947) initiated the formation of the Palestine Philharmonic Orchestra. There were many musicians who had immigrated from Nazi Germany at his disposal, some of whom were the best musicians in Europe. The name of the orchestra was initially "The Palestine Symphony Orchestra."
Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957) was considered one of the best conductors of his time. He was known for his anti-Fascist and anti-Nazi stances, and with the increase in Fascism in Europe, he decided to immigrate to the United States, where he was hired as conductor for NBC. In 1936, the founder of the Philharmonic, Huberman, was with his orchestra in the United States to raise funds for the new orchestra, where he convinced the renowned conductor, Toscanini, to come and conduct the opening event in Tel Aviv.
Walter Zadek [1900-1902] was born in Berlin and ascended to the Land of Israel in 1933. With no formal training in photography, he began operating as an independent press photographer using a Leica camera. Due to an old riding accident, Zadek used his left hand almost exclusively. Zadek's photographs are characterized by clean composition and toying with light and shadow; they are occasionally staged in the spirit of 'New Photography' which was widespread among EretzYisraeli photographers in the 1930s.
24x18 cm. Zadek's wife's signature is on the back of the photograph, and possibly also his own handwriting.
Fine-very fine condition.