Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04

ever see an organ grinder of any but
Italian nativity or at least descent or
extraction? No part of the world. In
the opinion of the Italians, has a clear
right to produce real grand opera but
Italy. They are willing and eager 10
produce 1t for the benefit of the world.
never elinging to it or EMBRACING it for
exclusive use in their own country: be-
cause they know that. like Providence,
music Is something which one may take
with BIN TO the ends of the earth and
yet leave behind. Why. 20 Sole MIC
american occasion of President Grover
Clevelands appearance at the World
Fair in Chicago
So, upon hearing sound pictures.
Italians instantly concluded that steps
had to be taken to maintain Italys
operate place in the sole When a bet
ter method of producing grand opera
was discovered, thought italy. italy
would produce 1t by that method.
Ready to Furnish Talent.
During the six months season at La
Scala Opera House in Milan opera is
performed practically every day. Each
year sees the presentation of new
operas, but the mainstays are the old
ones which are sung over and over
again. The children in the streets of
Milano, Firenze, Roma and many an
other Italian city can sing the entire
scores OF the operas of Italian COM
posers-Verdi, Donizetti, Leoncavallo,
Mascagni Puccini. Scariatti and many
others. Other cities besides Milan have
noted opera houses. Their clientele is
unlike that Of. say. the Metropolitan
Grand Opera House in New York, where
as many persons go to see what jewels
their neighbors are wearing as to hear
the music. Prices are much lower and
the very poorest people attend, not to
compare each others rags, but to listen
and learn. An Italian street beggar will
spend MS aims on seat at the opera
So it is regarded by the Italians as
the natural thing for them to make the
world opera conscious by putting their
great works on the singing screens.
Ihere are SO many trained singers In
Italy that this will provide a new and
welcome source of employment. Hun
dreds OF singers, with entire roles and
scores well learned and rehearsed, are
always ready at nod to spring to the
boards to take any part in any oper-
attic production. They are equally ready
TO spring before recording machine
The Italians do not lay claim to being
In advance OF Americans in the actual
production of sound pictures from the
technical and mechanical point of view
What they are ready to furnish is the
talent, The Bureau OF Foreign and
Domestic Commerce here therefore
sees an excellent trade opportunity for
American producing companies to avail
themselves of the readymade grand
opera companies Of the Italian cities.
There would be absolutely no dificulty
in getting plenty of people at relatively
low salaries capable Of giving creditabls
operate performances. Little difficulty
would be experienced, the bureau saws,
In obtaining the rights to produce works
| which still are under copyright The
works. of Verdi. Puccini, Mascs gnt.
Leoncavallo. Giordano and some others
are still controlled commercially, but
there are operas to be sung which were
composed long before there were such
things as copyright laws and which
have been public property for gener-
atoms.