José Iturbi

José Iturbi

Temperamental, volatile Spanish-born pianist and conductor whose life and career were varied and often controversial. Born in Valencia, he was a child prodigy, giving piano recitals by the age of seven and supplementing the family income by playing for up to 14 hours daily at a silent cinema theatre. He was an honours graduate from the Conservatoire de Musique in Paris, and, by the age of 24, occupied Franz Liszt's former post as leader of the piano department of the Geneva Conservatory. In 1928, he made his London debut as a concert pianist and the following year played Beethoven's G Major Concerto to great critical and audience acclaim under Leopold Stokowski's direction in Philadelphia. Not content with his triumphs, he branched out into conducting from 1933, eventually fronting the Rochester Philharmonic and conducting his first opera in 1959. Iturbi enjoyed an almost pop star-like status (even converting 1950's bobby-soxers to classical music) and became the only classical artist of his day to win two gold records. In 1946, RCA-Victor paid Iturbi the record sum of $118,029 for six months royalties, primarily for his recording of Chopin's Polonaise in A-Flat (the record went on to sell 2 million copies by 1974). A speed freak, Iturbi used to ride his motor bike and assorted sports cars with reckless abandon. When they weren't fast enough, he would get aboard his own aircraft, 'El Turia'. By 1946 he had logged 1500 flying hours, frequently travelling across entire continents between recitals. He had several close shaves which earned him the sobriquet 'the flying fool'. Iturbi's fiery temper manifested itself when he walked off the stage during a performance in Cleveland, because audience members were too audible in their consumption of hot dogs and soda pop. Earlier, while conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra, he had thrown a chair across the stage in disgust at the disturbance caused by the late arrival of the mayor and his entourage. This earned him yet another nickname, 'Turbulent Iturbi'. There were many other such incidents. He refused to appear with Benny Goodman on the same radio show, ostensibly because he disagreed with the idea of mixing jazz and classical music. Later, he also brashly refused to perform with Rosemary Clooney on television. Ironically, Iturbi's screen career was spent playing not only classical but also popular music, from boogie-woogie to honky tonk. After being persuaded by producer Boris Pasternak to appear in musicals for MGM, Iturbi's adaptation to the new medium was effortless. Of course, in all of his screen roles he simply played himself. Films like Anchors Aweigh (1945) (in which he conducted a 100-piece band for the opening march) and Three Daring Daughters (1948), did, however, allow him a fair measure of self-expression. His sister Amparo Iturbi (1899-1969), who in earlier years had frequently accompanied him in duo piano recitals, appeared in three of his pictures, including That Midnight Kiss (1949). Iturbi was born November 28, 1895 in Valencia, Valencia, Spain, and he died June 28, 1980 (age 84) in Los Angeles, California, USA

  • Title : José Iturbi
  • Popularity : 1.574
  • Known For : Acting
  • Birthday : 1895-11-28
  • Place of Birth : Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain
  • Homepage :
  • Also Known As : Хосе Итурби, Josep Iturbi Bàguena
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José Iturbi Movies

  • 1943
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    Thousands Cheer

    Thousands Cheer

    6.4 1943 HD

    Acrobat Eddie Marsh is in the army now. His first act is to become friendly with Kathryn Jones, the colonel's pretty daughter. Their romance hits a...

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  • 1945
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    Anchors Aweigh

    Anchors Aweigh

    6.8 1945 HD

    Two sailors on shore leave head out for four days of partying – only to become involved in the affairs of an aspiring singer and her precocious...

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  • 1944
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    Two Girls and a Sailor

    Two Girls and a Sailor

    5.7 1944 HD

    A sailor helps two sisters start up a service canteen. The sailor soon becomes taken with gorgeous sister Jean, unaware that her sibling Patsy is...

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  • 1949
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    That Midnight Kiss

    That Midnight Kiss

    5 1949 HD

    Opera singer Prudence Budell, overhears truck driver Johnny Donnetti singing opera, and persuades her opera company to give him a chance in her new...

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  • 1948
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    Three Daring Daughters

    Three Daring Daughters

    5.7 1948 HD

    Three young girls try to help their divorced mother find the right husband.

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  • 1946
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    Holiday in Mexico

    Holiday in Mexico

    6.2 1946 HD

    Christine Evans, the fifteen-year-old daughter of the widowed American ambassador to Mexico Jeffrey Evans, believes that she is no longer a young...

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  • 1944
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    Music for Millions

    Music for Millions

    6 1944 HD

    Six-year-old "Mike" goes to live with her pregnant older sister, Babs, who plays string bass in José Iturbi's orchestra. And the orchestra is...

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  • 1951
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    Diego Silang

    Diego Silang

    1 1951 HD

    This movie captures the core and colorful saga of the famous Ilocano hero Diego Silang.

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  • 1944
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    Twenty Years After

    Twenty Years After

    6 1944 HD

    This short celebrates the 20th anniversary of MGM. Segments are shown from several early hits, then from a number of 1944 releases.

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  • 1948
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    Song of My Heart

    Song of My Heart

    5 1948 HD

    The portrait of Russian composer Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky focuses on his failed love affair.

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  • 1954
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    The Jimmy Durante Show

    The Jimmy Durante Show

    1 1954 HD

    The Jimmy Durante Show is a 51-episode half-hour comedy/variety television program presented live on NBC from October 2, 1954 to June 23, 1956.

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  • 1959
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    The Bell Telephone Hour

    The Bell Telephone Hour

    7 1959 HD

    “The Bell Telephone Hour” was a musical variety show that aired on “NBC” TV from 12 January 1959 to 14 June 1968 that...

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