Evening star., 1933-10-22

Signor Mussolini has realized what
professional artists and musicians have
long known that to lift the musical pro-
fession out of its haphazard existence
strong mind with a definite plan
should concentrate on the matter II
has been the belief of serious thinkers
in the profession in every country, and
particularly in this country, that few
rigid laws laid down by the Government
would help straighten out the difficulties
considerably. However, no one has been
interested enough or courageous enough
to give the music situation real thought
until Mussolini suddenly looked into
the question. What he found in his
own country that needed remedying are
conditions that exist elsewhere and that
could benefit by just such governmental
mixing in that he has undertaken.
Beginning at the foundation, he has
inaugurated system of musical educa-
ton for the rising Italian generation
that reaches into the farthest rural
community. BY means of a Rural Radio
Institute which, by the way. is under
the jurisdiction of his daughters father
in-law. Count Ciano, minister of COM
munications, he plans a systematic
musical education that will be of ad-
vantage to those out of reach of what
large city could offer in that line
This will be supplemented by regular
scholastic programs that will be broad
cast by competent professors of each
division of music. Special arrangements
are being installed so that these broad
casts can reach every portion of the
country without interference. He is
taking no chances that some brilliant
talent will be lost to the world through
lack OF opportunities to develop or that
time will be lost in worthless education
What will be presented ON these broad
cast teaching hours will be chosen
With the purpose of giving sound foun-
cation and it will be presented in
concise and understandable manner
His next step was to investigate the
teaching profession and weed out the
UNFIT. OF whom there has been a super
abundance in Italy. Dignifying the pro-
fession by demanding proper prepara-
ton before exercising it, MusSolini has
now ordained that no one may teach
particularly singing, without having
been given diploma from an academy
OF recognized standing. Having a di-
ploma, license to practice as teacher
can be obtained. There seems to have
been no protesting cry to that order
such as followed the mere suggestion of
such q thing last Spring in this country
After seeing that proper education is
provided. he next turns his attention
as to how to simplify the steps that
lead to public launching of exceptional
talent. Italy is essentially opera
minded, and much of MussoliniS in
terest is directed to renovizing the old
fashioned ideas that force opera pro-
duction into rut. This condition has
hot l1
composers of their own country could
not get anv true appreciation of their
works while the producers and the
public were deluding themselves with
the idea that beyond Puccini nothing
good in opera had been composed. The
opera situation has been exceptionally
precarious in Italy this past year. so
that Mussolini'S announcement that
state subsidies would be granted only
to theaterS staging new work or others
OF special artistic interest that were
first produced not earlier than January
l, 1919. will put new life and hope into
the hearts of struggling composers.
The agents and managers are next
attacked and certain vicious practices
of theirs done away with. Mussolini
has positively forbidden that singers or
conductors be engaged anywhere in
Italy who have not the Endorsement
of credited agencies. The methods Of
operation of these managers are care
fully watched so that the extortions
and intrigues that formerly were part
of their tactics can no longer be en-
ployed Real talent, whether vocal Or
instrumental. will now be given fair
chance to try their wings. and their
success will rest on public opinion and
not on the amount of money they can
To n
ayers.
The outcome of these experiments
will be watched with intense interest
by every artist of no matter what ma
tionality. In the meantime, it would
be well if the general tendency of these
peremptory plans could be incorporated
in our own system of musical better