CHALIAPIN.

Evening Post, Volume 50, Issue 50, 27 August 1926, Page 4

CHALIAPIN.

In the middle of July, 1908, only a few days after Giulio Gatti-Casazza, now direc-tor-general of the Metropolitan Opera House, had been appointed director of the famous theatre of La Scala, Milan, he decided upon a production of Arrigo Boito's opera, "Meflstofele." Th c composer, the conductor Arture Toscanini, and Gatti-Casazza himself were all three greatly perploSed as to who should bo engaged for the title role. A basso of exceptional merit was not to be found, and at length someone suggested that the part be re-written for a baritone. This, however, the composer refused to do. One day a compatriot told the conductor about a young singer who had been electrifying Russian audiences by his extraordinary interpretations, and who, in the speaker's opinion, could be counted upon to create a sensation in Milan. A telegram was promptly sent off to Feodor Chaliapin, who immediately accepted the engagement for ten performances at 1000 lire an evening. Chaliapin's New Zealand tour will be restricted to six performances only, three in Wellington and three in Auck-. land. Messrs. J. and N. Tait, who are directing the tour, announce the booking arrangements. The Wellington dates are 16th, 18th, and 20th September.