FASCIST HYMN

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3373, 3 October 1931, Page 3

FASCIST HYMN

CONDUCTOR REVOLTS. REFUSAL TO PLAY IT. NEW YORK QUARREL. The recent conflict between the Fascists and Arturo Toscanini over his refusal to play the Fascist hymn "Giovinezza" found an echo in New York, when Egon Ebert, an American conductor, resigned his engagement to conduct a series of concerts in Mecca Temple because he had been asked to play the Fascist hymn at these concerts (says the New York Times). At the same time, Dr. Charles Fama, anti-Fascist, president of the Defenders of the Constitution and a Mason, announced that he would protest to officials of the Masonic Order against "the use of Mecca Temple, a Masonic institution, for purposes of Fascist propaganda." Dr. Fama said, "100,000 Masons in New York city will not permit the desecration* of one of their institutions by persons bent on playing the Fascist hymn within its walls." "Mussolini and Fascism are desperate enemies of Masonry," Dr. Fama continued, "and have resorted to the worst form of persecution, not excluding murder, against Masons." In making known his resignation, Mr. Ebert said that he refused to play the Fascist hymn because he thought it had no place in artistic musical programme and because of his sympathy for Toscanini. Toscanini recently was attacked by a Fascist mob in Bologna because he would not play the Fascist hymn, and left Italy.after some delay, during which the Mussolini Government had seized his passport and kept him virtually a prisoner at his home in Milan. Italy's Hand. The concerts at Mecca Temple are to begin shortly, and from a statement by Paul Sydow, of 1475, Broadway, under whose auspices the concerts are to take place, it appeared that the Italian Government had something to do with the arrangements to have "Giovinezza" performed at the first three of the concerts. He would not say, however, whether Mussolini, himself, had any interest in the matter. At the office of the Italian Consulate it was said in -behalf of Emanuel Grazzi, the ConsulGeneral, that nothing was known about the matter there. "Mr. Ebert was fully aware for the last two weeks that I am bound to a certain party to have the Fascist march, "Giovinezza," played at the opening of the promenade concerts at the Mecca Auditorium, under his direction, and I warned him that he would compel me to discharge him in the event of his trying to hinder me from fulfilling my obligations," said Mr. Sydow.

Asserting- that "Giovinezza" would be performed regaidless of Mr. Ebert's protest, Mr. Sydow added: "I have informed the Italian Government that no further interference will occur."

Asked whether this meant that the Italian Government had arranged with him for the performance of "Giovinezza" at the concerts, Mr. Sydow fell into silence and would make no other explanation beyond saying that he had made such an arrangement with "a certain person living abroad." "I should not have told you of the assurance I have given the Italian Government," he added. "I have made a faux pas. ■ Forget it." He then assailed Mr. Ebert and Mr. Toscanini. "This man is an American citizen, and he refuses to play 'Giovinezza' because he wants nothing else than to please Toscanini. He will be greatly disappointed, because Toscanini has never done anything for anybody. He uses other people and does nothing for them. He is the greatest conductor we have, but as a man he is impossible. I suppose Mr. Ebert thinks 'we -conductors must stick together.' "

Radio Campaign.

Vowing opposition to any attempt to perform "Giovinezza" at Mecca Temple, Dr. Fama said that he would go on the radio to begin a campaign against Mr. Sydow's programme, and "of those who are behind him in this venture."

"It is quite clear to me why the Italian Government of which Mr. Sydow speaks should want to see 'Giovinezza' performed at a concert in New York city so soon after the fiasco suffered by Mussolini in his brush with Toscanini," said Dr. Fama. "Toscanini is Italy's greatest conductor and the idol of New York's musical public. Having been worsted by Toscanini in Italy, Mussolini wants to save his face by having 'Giovinezza' played in a place belonging to Masons. Mussolini and the Fascists are the most desperate foes of Masonry. We have not forgotten that night of 1925 when 127 Italian Masons were murdered in their beds. Nor have we forgotten the destruction of all Masonic organisations in

Italy and the Masonic prisoners still languishing on the island of Lipari, Mussolini's penal colony. I assure you that 100,000 New York Masons will see to it that Mussolini and his agents do not succeed in their latest trick."

When seen at his home, Mr. Ebert, whom Mr. Sydow described as "looking like Mahler, with the temperament of Toscanini," declared that "this thing was forced down my throat," meaning the attempt to have him play "Giovinezza." "I could not do anything else but resign," he said. "I was not told, at the beginning, but only a week ago, that I would have to play 'Giovinezza.' Why should there be any question of playing it at all? They might as well ask me to play the Communist 'lnternationale.' I have the highest admiration for Mr. Sydow as a manager, but he ought to leave his fingers out of making programmes. What does the Fascist hymn have to do with an artistic musical programme? I refused to play it because it is out of place and because of my sympathy with Toscanini."

When told of Mr. Sydow's statement that he had 'informed the Italian Government that there would be no other'interference," Mr. Ebert looked up in surprise.

"Oh, I see," he said,, "the political inference is now clear."

According to Mr. Sydow, Eugene Plotnikoff, a Russian, and Ole Windigstad, a Norwegian, two other conductors engaged for the concerts, agreed to play the Fascist hymn, and promised to raise no difficulties. In the spring of 1928 Mr. Sydow brought Prince Joachim Albrecht of Prussia, cousin of the ex-Kaiser, to New York to conduct a series of concerts. The enterprise ended in what Mr. Sydow later charged was a breach of contract by the Prince and a threat of Mr. Sydow to have the royal conductor arrested. The Prince left the United States without adding to his musical laurels.