The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-25
STARS COMING BACK
TO METROPOLITAN
William j. Guard Returns
From Europe and Tells of
Plans for Season.
TOSCANINT Is UNDECIDED

The first authoritative information
concerning plans for the new season at
the Metropolitan Opera House since the
wide circulation OF reports OF important
changes in the personnel Of the company
came yesterday with the arrival In New
York OF William j Guard. general press
representative. Mr.. Guard was accom-
panied ny his wife and Giul!o setti.
chorus master Of the Metropolitan. ar
irving on the steamship Taormina from
Genoa. In Italy Mr.. Guard had been
in daily touch viii Giulio Gatti-Casazza.
the general manager.
One OF the questions hat has been
agitating the public mind Tor weeks has
beer whether Arturo Toscanini would
return as principal conductor. Or Mr..
ToScanini's decision, il was reported,
rested the attitude of Giorgio Polacco
and others.
According to Mr.. Guard there is still
reasonable ground for hope that Mr..
Tcscanini will return. and although the
war has fired him with an unusual
amount Of patriotism for his country
Mr.. Gatti-Casazza may yet succeed in
persuadirg him to sign a CONTRACT
thing which he has so far steadfastly re-
fused 70 do. In the event OF Mr.. ToS-
caninis declining to come to America
Mr.. Guard said that up to the time he
left Italy no one else had been engaged
TO replace him. Rumors about the nom
return OF Nj. ~Gatti-Casazza, Mr..
polacco and other members OF the COM
pany were classed as ridiculous gossip
with not the slightest foundation OF
truth"
one Of the most interesting pieces Of
news. however. was the announcement
OF TIE engagement OF four new singers
during the summer. These are Mime.
Erman Zarska, p:ima donna OF the
Prague Opera, a dramatic and lyric
soprano cf wide reputation Signor:na
Ida Cajetti Of Trieste. principal member
of opera organizations In Rome, Mad
rid. Palermo and Buenos Ayres. Sig
norma Flora Perini. m ~zzo-sorrano OF
La Scala " Milan and companies in
Turin, Petrograd and Moscow. and
G!acono Dammacco. a young light
terror from Bari, in the province OF
luglia. southern Italy Fifteen differ
ert operas comprise the repertoire Of
these four singers.
General Manager G.tti-CaSazza.
whom | left in Milan said Mr.. Guard.
will sail for New York In about ten
days on the Dante Alighleri. He has
had a very busy summer. with plenty
- US ~ AAN'
war. The ocean voyage he will have
to consider as his usual vacation.
Mr.. Caruso. who arrived in Europe
from South America just before | sailed.
will remain here all through the season.
As for Mr.. Toscanlni. | expect 20 hear
next week from Mr.. Gattl-Casazza
whs; his ina decision Is. \ few days
before leaving Milan Mr.. T~oscanini. Mr..
Gatti-Caslzza and | ere together.
IT,. ,N,,agE,A pr.. I,..t,- i,,.lH "a
patriotism. He could think OF nothing
else. o rave heard OF the wonder
full concert he organized and conducted.
OF which tho chorus OF 1900 was
trained by our able and modest Giulio
Setti.
Now Mr.. Toscanini has organized
and IS conducting a two months opera
season in Milan to give work 20 less
fortunate musicians. the principals. like
himself, contributing their services.
The profits will go TO the Red Cross.
Mrs. Toscanini." continued Mr..
Guard. is one OF the chief leaders OF
the latter organization. Their little
daughter Wllly Is also an active worker
In the cause and their son enrolled In
the army as a volunteer before his
class was called. You can realize. then,
how with his enthusiastic temperament
Mr.. T|oscanin! hesitate! over coming 10
New York. AZ least during the first
part o: this season. Nevertheless Mr..
Gatti-Casazza may succeed in psrsuad-
ing him.
lotto We'll. business representative OF
the company, has been occupied with
opera affairs in Austria and Germany.
visiting Berlin, Vienna and other must
cal centres. From time to time Mr..
Gatt!-Casazza and his stan had 20 jour
ney to Switzerland for business confer
ences on neutral territory. Everything
presages the same brilliant season in
New York this winter as in previous
Years"