Francesco Mander

His teacher was Enzo Martinenghi, the solo cellist of the Teatro alla Scala orchestra, then under the baton of Arturo Toscanini.

In 1948 he was appointed principal conductor of the Orquesta Sinfònica de Madrid, taking it on extended tours through Spain and Portugal, conducting concerts in all the most important cities.

Between 1948 and 1951 he frequently served as visiting conductor with the Dublin-based Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra and by 1955 he had become a well-known and appreciated guest in many countries: "Exceptional" is the comment of composer and critic Richard de Guide.

Or:[3]"Mr Mander proved himself a master of his players....He achieved a remarkable dramatic response from the LPO... A first rate musician.

[4] With the same enthusiasm he was acclaimed in Milan, Moscow, Budapest, Sydney, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Chicago, New York, Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, St Petersburg, and others.

From 1969 until 1976 he was chief conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of the South African Broadcasting Corporation in Johannesburg, as well as maintaining a demanding schedule of guest conducting in various countries.