The sun., 1919-04-20
it's Quest for the Great American Composer Still in VAR
AS to Native Singers the Result Has
Been Much Better-Favors Subsid-
iary Opera Houses to Train
Them Here

the same time OF the adventures OF his
Fabrice in the ducal city. All that
life held for GATH opened to him there
also. Productions of new operas were
made there and the experience he
gained could not be measured as pro-
vincial.
When a change in the policy Of the
great Teatro ALA Scala, Milan's
world famous lyric stage, was made
in 1908 GiulIo Gatti-Casazza was
called to manage 1t and Arturo Tos-
canini was made musical director.
Two young men, under 80, in entire
charge OF the stage that gave laws
Of music to all. the world! What fate
could have been more delightful?
They had their dreams, their aspira-
lions, their revolutionary plans. and
while voices might be raised in coun-
sci the final verdict rested with them
selves.
Work in Harmony.
Manager and conductor worked
but can one call it work?-in almost
perfect harmony. Their ideals
touched, their modernity in music was
equally pronounced, they dared to
present Wagner to the Italians! They
presented first THE Rheingold," then
"Siegfried" and even "Parsifa" in
concert. No composer was barred
from their stage II he could first pass
them. The moderns had their innings:
| Puccini, Franchetti, Gilea, Giordano
Debussy. Charpentier, not one sang in
too strange a voice to be heard there
And, best of all, the two innovators
pleased their public and carried them
along even to "Salome."
Transported to New York Gatti and
Toscanini found their eclectic minds
at work in a still more liberal school
| And yet their difficulties proved
greater than at home. In a season
Of opera OF La Scala ten or clever
operas are full measure; in New York
forty are not enough to present II
was continual rehearsal and Gatti.
Casazza lived in the opera house. i
was necessary.
But the general manager lives there
rot as in an ivory tower. remote from
human interests, a cold, pgodlike man.
ager only. He is everywhere and ht
is interested in everything and every.
body. His most distinguishing trait
as well known to the office boy as e
the diva. is affabtlity without weak
ness. He governs, but in no auto
cratic way, although there is no ques
ton made by anybody that he mus
be obeyed. Modesty and justice ar,
other traits that rank and file, chorus
and star unanimously testify are his
A big family is his the members of /
say so without exception. but it il
not spoiled or petted family.
The life has told on him. The shor
beard Is only slightly grizzled, 1t i
true, but something of the vivacity O
the man who searched the must
stores for that American opera in 100
has departed from his manner. Hi
eyes look fatigued and he frankl
owned that the life had told on him.
"Twenty-six years OF opera manage
ment." said he. ut is a long time"
The WEAKNESS is natural enough a
the end OF any season; il is twice natu
raj after two years OF maintaining,
the face Of world war, opera at il
5 highest world standard. Two year
I ago a problem confronted him that Il
r has peculiarly solved; fun quarter {
= the operate repertoire was at one CT
e torn out and in the place OF the di:
carded German scores others had to I
1 substituted that should please an e,
] acting clientele.
e This severe experience has demon
! strated that the public share my affe,
t ton for the melodic note. Opera,