New-York tribune., 1921-04-17
Leopoldo Mugnone
Denies Accusations
OF Lyric Federation

The following letter has been re-
ceived by the Music Department of
The New York Tribune from Leopoldo
Mugnone, the veteran Italian con-
ductor:
For my good name and for my
artistic reputation I am anxious to be
put right, if I need to be put right,
before the American public. deny in
the strongest possible terms the state
ments in New York paper of April g.,
which am informed is a journal of
wide circulation and influence, made
against me, and purporting to be said
by DR.. Giovanni Buono and Alfredo
Salmaggi, of the Italian Lyric Fedora
tion, in which they say I stopped the
performance of Verdi's Aida at the
Academy Of Music, Brooklyn, ON the
evening of Thursday, April z. In this
article, which is headed 'Mugnone Is
Blamed for Operas Failure Or. Buono
is quoted as saying:
II begged and pleaded with Mugnone
not to throw US down, but he refused
to conduct the opera unless he had his
own artists. He knew that was i'm
possible under the circumstances
"Mr. Salmaggi in the same article
is announced as making these state
ments:
'Mugnone is to blame for it all.
Everything had been paid, the chorus,
the musicians, the house and all, ex-
cept these seven or eight singers
Mugnone brought with him. Had they
agreed to 60 on with the opera we
could have liquidated all our debts.
We had sold more than $4,000 worth of
tickets by o'clock in the afternoon
II myself have been fully financially
recompensed' for my coming to Amer
ica, having received the sum Of $40 900
for q period Of five weeks. The con-
tract of the Italian Lyric Federation
provides that on April 20 1 am to re-
ceive another $4,000.
"For forty-seven years of a music al
career l have never failed in my duty.
1t is absolutely untrue to say that the
facts are otherwise than these: The
performance of Aida planned to take
place at the Brooklyn Academy last
Thursday night was not given because
the rent of the Academy was not paid.
In conformity with my contract, though
I had not been allowed any rehearsals
by the management, I went over to
the Brooklyn Academy Thursday eve
ming in time to conduct My artists
from Italy came with me, though they
had not been paid for previous singing
IN accordance with their contracts.
The orchestra came also, in tribute to
me. We found the theater doors
closed, darkened house, stage un-
set. am informed that men at the
doors announced, There will be no
opera tonight. Tickets will not be re-
deemed here. Get your money back
tomorrow at 1925 Broadway, Manhat-
tan, at the Offices of the Italian Lyric
Federation.'
ut is absurd to say in view Of these
facts, every one of which can be con-
firmed, that I, Mugnone, blocked the
performance, that it did not 90 on be-
cause of me. Such statements are
untruths, and if they are not contra
dicted shall have to deal with them
IN accordance with the laws of this
land. There are laws in America pro-
tecting men and women against will
full SANDER as there are in Italy. The
statements published and credited to
Dr. Buono and Mr.. Salmaggi are at
tempts to disguise the perfectly plain
and proved truth, which is that no
opera was given by the Italian Lyric
Federation last Thursday evening in
Brooklyn because the federation failed
to meet it's obligation with the Brook
lyn Academy.
LEOPOLD MuGNoNE."