San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-19
Italians Real Music Lovers
Song Seems to Be in the Air in That Land
of Sunshine.

/ handsome building which is the .Acad,
envy home as though protesting TO the
strain put upon its engine. Once in
side he building rhcre was a touch of
coolncsS; and the open courtyard. in
the center, still retaired a touch o.
the previous months 'crdurc.
Howard Hanson. one OF the three
American fellows in music row pur-
suing their work in Europe, recciv d
us. He was shorn OF collar and Lis
shirt sleeves were rolled up, in good
American fashion of q man really at
work. Leo Sowerby and Ralph
ThompSon-the other members of this
triumvirate-were both away from
Rome. Hanson was finishing a new
composition North and West, SYM
phonic poem which Alfred Coates is to
perform in the autumn in London. and
which Walter Damrosch will conduct
with the New York symphony during
the coming season.
Hanson expressed his confidence in
the constructive work which the
scheme of the Academy fellowship in
music is making possible for Ameri-
can composers. He has written
symphony, two SYM homie Toems.
string quartet. and several smaller
works in the year and half of his
residence in Europe. Sowerby has
also written considerably.
The stimulus offered BIZ European
environment is. believes Hanson, Of
the utmost value to the serious Ameri-
can musician. But he holds an opin-
=, -, g Lo4 IS n+hapa
over here with whom we have talked:
that the bulk Of the best teachers are
to be found in the United States. and
that no musician seeking a career
Creative or interpretLtive) should
come here until sound technique has
been acquired.
Scandiani and La Scala.
Director Scandiani. of Milan's La
Scala (Teatro ALA Scala is its Off
ciul title), is a well poised man. a
trifle rotund smooth of countenance,
he speaks quietly and with much con-
servatism. We made a slip in the
last article touching upon the subsidy
ance: it is $4,000 lire. not 100000.
Scandiani is busy with his program
for the coming year. 1t may not be
as long as the one brought to q close
June 10 last. which carried it for
full month beyond the customary clos
ing date. The representations some
how kept at full fervor the interest Of
the Milanese. They admired Sean
diani's policy, and the rare qualities
Of Conductor Arturo Toscanini.
1t was characteristic of Scandani
that he should refrain from comment
ing upon the quality of opera being
given in other cities than his own.
He said frankly that he had heard
none and was therefore no, competent
to speak. He did admit, however,
that Italy can boast only Few great
singing artists. The glOries of other
days are not now. But at La Scala
they prepare carefully for each per-
formance. Every effort is made TO
present an opera in the best possible
circumstances and they DO not shirk
rehearsing.
Opera-less Florence.
One might naturally conclude that
Florence, with its marvellous treas
ures of art. would be foremost among
Italy's cities which give fine opera
but such. strange rs it may seem. is
not the case. For all its historic build
ings-palaces of the Medici. churches.
art galleries. and the like--:here is al !
most no opera in Florence. We won
dered Mt il.
What Florence offers, though. is an |
atmosphere which every music stu
dent and musician should experience.
The breadth of a music artist, no mat |
ter what his sphere Of activity. can |
never be too great. He should know |
as much rs possible OF all the arts.
and Florence, with its wealth of his