New-York tribune., 1920-12-26
An Invasion of Conductors
Within Next Three Weeks
Great Italian Retuens to America-The Career of
Albert Coates-A Sketch of the 'sLondon''
Sy1nphony-Willcm Mengelberg

Information concerning him other than
his public record.
A Feat of Memory
The following story is told Of him
while he was conducting an orches-
ira at Buenos Ayres. The conductor
was brother Of Luigi Mancinelli. One
day at rehearsal a message was brought
that Mancinelli had com mitted suicide.
He had taken away the conductors
score. Another was not to be had. In
the emergency Toscanini said that he
believed he coA.i conduct the orera
withoue score. The impresario was
nclines to laugh at the suggestion, but
in despair urged him to mako the ct
tempt. He continued as conductor for
the remainder Of the season, then went
back to Italy and again became 8
'cellist at Genoa While there he re-
peated the feat which he achieved at
Buenos Ayres
Luigi Mancinelli was the conductor.
At the dress rehearsal Of Franchetti's
"Cristofero Colombo" for the operas
first production conductor and COM
poser quarreled violently over the in
terpretation Of the score. Mancinelli
lett tho theater in a rage. Again
Tcscanini came to the rescue and
triumphed.
When Giulio Gatti-Casazza left the
Municipal Theater at Ferrara for La
Scala. Milan, 70 made his acceptance
conditional Upon Toscanini's being Of
sered the post of conductor.
Toscanini's mind must resemble a
phonograph, for he conducts entirely
from memory. Some explain his de-
pendcnce upon his memory by tho fact
that he Is extremely near-sighted.
His reticence about himself is no
pose. for be avoids Interviews His
men look upon him almost as god.
although be is stern master,
A Conductor From London
Albert Coates. who will conduct the
New York Symphony Orchestra for tbs
tirst time next Thursday afternoon, was
born In Petrograd of Engli' 7arents.
His early musical training was received
at the Petrograd conservatory under
Virgebolovitch and Rimsky-Korsakoff
Later he entered the conservatory at
Leipsic. and In 1904 was one Of the
fret to Join The conducting c4ss Of
Nikisch. In succession he became
junior conductor of tto Leipsic Opera
House.. conductor at the Royal Opera
in Dresden, and In 1910 he was ap-
pointed to the post Of senior conductor
at the Imperial Opera in Petrograd.
Nr. Coates made his first appear
ance Ia London In the Covent Garden
Wagner season Of January and Febru-
airy, 1914. and was reengaged for tho
grand season Of May, Juno and July
OF the same year. Ho returned TO
Russia as tho artistic director as we'll
as conductor OF the Petrograd I'm
perial Opera, and was later also ap-
pointed conductor OF the Imperial
Concert Orchestra.
Tho revolution left those organiza-
tions In q serious plight. Still, Coates
managed Tor t'rne 20 keep his arts
tic flag flying, Lat the uneven fight
against starvation gradually sapped
the strength Of the artists. It was not
uncommon TO learn that a musician
missing from the orchestra at rchear-
sal had starved 70 death. Albert
Coatcs underwear o severe breakdown.
Mrs. Coates induced tho authorities to
permit her 10 remove her husband.
md In May Of 1919. after two months
sojourn in a sanatorinm In Finland
they arrived in England.
Sir Thomas Beechnrn Immediately
engaged Mx. Coates an senior conduc-
tor and co-srtistic directors for CO.
vent Garden. He was also appointed