DEFIANCE OF THE DUCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19803, 31 May 1926, Page 8

DEFIANCE OF THE DUCE

OPERA HOUSE SENSATION. CONDUCTOR REFUSES TO OBEY. LONDON, May 19. Owing to a dispute with Signor Mussolini, Italy’s most famous conductor. Signor Toscanini, is mysteriously absent, says a Milan message, from the conductor’s chair at La ScaTa Opera House, where he has conducted “Turandot.” This is the opera upon which Puccini was engaged when he died, leaving it unfinished, lut which was produced on a gorgeous scale late last month. Toscanini formerly was a Fascist, but eventually resigned. He refused to play the Fascist battle song on the occasion of the Italian Labour Day in 1924, closing the theatre instead. He repeated this refusal in 1926, while in 1926 he insisted on rehearsing ‘Turandot” on that date. Signor Mussolini then intervened. He declined to attend the production of “ Turandot,” and demanded that Toscanini alter his tactics, also taht only Italian operas be produced at La Scala. Toscanini, however, refused to brook any interference. It is reported that he has resigned.