Leopold Amérigo Miguéz

Leopold Amérigo Miguéz (9 September 1850, Niterói — 6 July 1902, Rio de Janeiro), or Leopoldo Miguez, was a Brazilian composer, conductor, violinist, pedagogue, and the [url=https://discogs.com/label/3056224]Instituto Nacional de Musica[/url] director (appointed in 1890); he was the uncle of poet Luiz Peixoto (1889—1973). Miguez is cited among the leading Brazilian proponents of Richard Wagner's repertoire in his generation. He also inadvertently empowered 19-year-old Arturo Toscanini in his conducting debut. In 1889, Leopold composed the official anthem of Brazil, "Hino da Proclamação da República," on lyrics by Medeiros e Albuquerque (1867—1934).

Miguéz began studying music at eight, taking violin lessons at Conservatório de Música do Porto with Nicolau Medina Ribas (1832—1900). In 1867, Leopold's father forced the 17-year-old musician to pursue a clerical career; Miguez returned to Rio de Janeiro around 1871 and worked as an accountant for several years. Between 1878 and 1881, he collaborated with Portuguese composer and pianist Alfredo Napoleão dos Santos (1852—1917). Leopold then decided to focus solely on conducting; in 1882, he traveled to Paris to continue his education.

In April 1886, Leopold Miguéz joined an opera company recently established by Italian set designer and architect Claudio Paolo Achille Rossi (1850—1935). A reputable South American tour contractor for leading European troupes, Rossi had renovated several major opera venues in Brazil before starting as an impresario in 1885. Most of his investments went towards prima singers, like [url=https://discogs.com/artist/2896513]Medea Mei[/url], Eugenia Mantelli, and [url=https://discogs.com/artist/2896512]Nicolaj Figner[/url], so the aspiring entrepreneur had to hire an orchestra on a budget, filling even the most important chairs with recent graduates, like his adolescent principal cellist and assistant choirmaster Arturo Toscanini, or little-known local professionals, as in the case with Carlo Superti from Parma who became Leopold's assistant.

In June 1886, just two months later, disgruntled Miguéz resigned amidst Rossi's tour, right before the scheduled [url=https://discogs.com/artist/192327]Verdi[/url]'s Aida production in São Paulo — tired of constant arguments with Carlo Superti (who, supposedly, tried to sabotage and undermine Brazilian maestro). However, an infuriated audience quickly booed the assistant conductor off the stage; after the principal choirmaster cautiously declined such a stressful stand-in opportunity, Toscanini took the baton. Despite his young age and lack of experience, Arturo knew most Verdi operas by heart and successfully concluded the performance. (In Franco Zeffirelli's 1988 film depicting this fateful night, [url=https://discogs.com/release/3352860]Young Toscanini[/url], "Maestro Miguez" is portrayed by actor Nicolas Chagrin (1945—2017). For a more factual account, see the 1978 book "Toscanini" by Harvey Sachs or [url=https://discogs.com/artist/3018551]Aníbal Enrique Cetrangolo[/url]'s 2016 article "Aida Times Two: How Italian Veterans of Two Historic Aida Productions Shaped Argentina's Music History" in Cambridge Opera Journal.)