New-York tribune., 1908-02-21
OPERA PERSONALITIES.
Il Friend Describes Gdtti-Casazza
and T0scanini.

| Some details as to the work and personalities OF
Mr. Gatti-Casazza and M Toscanini were given
| out at the Metropolitan Opera House yesterday
afternoon Otto II. Kahn invited reporters 10 meet
| G. P. Centenini musician and friend OF both
men. who 20 leave La Scala, in Milan, for the
Metropolitan
Mr.. Centenini launched into an account or Gatti-
| Casazza whom he referred to "Gatti He Is
between thirtynine and forty years old OF an ars-
tocratic family that originally of Mantua but
is established in Ferrara. 1T has been said
continued Mr. Centenni. that Gatti is navai
engineer He was studying for that profession in
Ferrara young man. and was passionateiy
fond OF music; amateur, ne became active
in the municipal theatre of Ferrara- and became
its director. In 1887 Id Scala was managed IN
such unsatisfactory way that it was closed
Gatti had become so favorably known for his Work
in Ferrara that in 1898 he invited to come to
Milan and direct La Scala.
AN improvement began at once for he produced
Der Meistersinger, Damnation Of Faust and The
Queen Sheba that time the musical taste
of Italy opposed TO Wagner but Gatti-Casazza
produced Siegfried' in 1900 and has given 10 the
people The Ring He has fought the publishers.
too and I have him lead from the stage a
publisher who was trying to interfere with re-
hearsal. He is independent and artist
Mr.. Centenini interrupted by question as
to what operas Gatti-Casazza introduced 10 La
Scala. Last year he gave 'Salorne. replied Mr.
Centenini He then began TO tell of Gatti-Casazzas
attention
what other introductions he had made He has
produced 'PeIleas and Melisande.' he said 'and
this season he gave Louise -
They star makers" exclaimed Mr. Centenini
"are Gatti and Toscanini."
Asked what stars they had made. he said
'Gatti discovered Chalapine in Russia and he made
Caruso famous. for Caruso was little known before
Gatt brought him to La Scala"
Mr. Centenini named no other discoveries by Cat
i-Casazza. but turned TO his work on Christopher
he said. La Scala's manager studied carefully the
naval architecture OF 1892 Also he revived Tro-
vatore' and stageht beautifully for the first time
having the COSTUMES in the Spanish mode OF the
latter part of the fifteenth century
When Toscaninis was mentioned Mr. Kahn
said: He is a great Wagner conductor"
More than that" exclaimed Mr.. Centenini, 'he
is also a great italian conductor He conducts en-
tirely from memory. and his memory is most won
derful. Why. he can hum any opera from end to
end. have heard Nm hum much Of 'Salome."
Mr. Centenini then told how Toscanini became a
conductor He a South American tour as
first 'cellist in orchestra and the conductor
mitted suicide because of poor business. Toscanini
was asked to fill the dead leaders place. and he did
so at once His debut as an opera conductor is
even more interesting. II was in Genoa
They were rehearsing Christopher Columbus I"
said Mr.. Centenini "and ToscanIni had six times
heard them. One day the conductor quarreIled
with the composer. and. throwing down his baton
said: Conduct your opera yourself Franchetti
the composer, was at loss, and then Toscanini
came forward from the back OF the house and said
IF will let I will try conduct They told
him to do and first of all he closed the score
AMI
To illustrate, Mr.. Centenim seized a telephone
directory.
Then he conducted throughout entirely from
memory, and that after hearing Columbus
only six times concluded the narrator.
Mr.. Centenini said that Toscanini spoke German
and French besides. of course. Italian. and a
thorough artist Gattt-Casazza knows French and
some English and is executive of great ability
AS for criticisms of La Scala's staging he said
that it had only $4,000 500 year but that the
most was made OF this 1t has excellent ballet
and a dancing school besides