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Some weeks ago the Metropolitan Opera Company entertained a composer of an opera in its repertory. Italo Montemezzi, "honored guest" at a gala performance of his own L'Amore dei Tre Re, was crowned on the stage with a wreath. Now a similar event has taken place. Max Schillings, upon visiting America, was a guest at a performance of his own Mona Lisa, which was given last year for the first time in American (TIME, May 19). Schillings was not crowned with a wreath. He does not, indeed, deserve a wreath; his opera is not half as good so Montemezzi's.
However, a certain sentimental interest is to be discovered in the Schillings affair. The leading soprano role in Mono, Lisa was sung by Barbara Kemp, the composer's wife. To hear your music properly sung by your wife retains a certain connubial glamor.
Siegfried Disappoints
From Boston came the statement that Siegfried Wagner (TIME, Jan. 28) "is unlikely to come to this city to conduct orchestra concerts." It appears that a year ago the Boston Symphony Orchestra declined to have him appear with its forces as a guest conductor. Boston holds a poor opinion of Siegfried as a director of music.
In other cities the son of the great Richard Wagner has been a disappointment. His own compositions which he has conducted have been feeble and uninteresting; and his interpretations of his father's music have been savagely criticized— The disappointment does not arise entirely from his lack of genius, but rather from his failure to present the true tradition of his sire. It was supposed that he knew how his father wanted the music presented. This expectation, however, ignored 'the fact that Siegfried was only 13 years of age when his father died.
Said Lawrence Oilman, famed critic: "Mr. Wagner is 55 years old—of medium height, plump, white-haired, clean-shaven. In profile he looks like a blend of George Washington, Chauncey M. Depew and the composer of Tristan. His general aspect is that of a lymphatic vestryman. He is almost uncannily undemonstrative. . . . He conducts with astonishing casualness. . . . His listlessness makes the conductional apathy of Richard Strauss seem epileptic by comparison."
No Opera Trust
Samuel Insull, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Civic Opera Company, journeyed to Manhattan, payed a visit to Giulio Gatti-Casazza, General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera Company. Immediately rumors went abroad that in the long confabulation of the two functionaries there was discussed, and even arranged, a merger of the Chicago and the Metropolitan Companies. "An opera trust!" was the cry.
Mr. Gatti, however, Issued a formal statement denying the rumor. He stated that the subject matter of his talk with Mr. Insull was, interestingly enough, the mutual assurance that they would not lure stars from each other.
—THE GREEN BAY TREE — Louis Bromfield — Stokes ($2.00) to appear March 29. The Education of Peter-John Wiley-Stokes ($2.00)