Music: Menotti Flayed

In Milan last week, Composer Gian-Carlo Menotti was feeling "hopeful—and worried." And not without reason.

He was back in his native Italy with hopes of a hero's welcome after the big success of his operas on Broadway (TIME, May 1). For the first Italian production of The Consul, La Scala was giving him everything he wanted: a hand-picked cast (including Contralto Marie Powers and Tenor Andrew McKinley from Broad way's Consul), new sets, plenty of rehearsals and free rein with the staging. But instead of garlands, he sniffed garlic. For one thing, some Italians resented...