THE MAESTRO’S MEMORY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 169, 20 July 1938, Page 5

THE MAESTRO’S MEMORY

JN the life of Toscanini was a small but interesting occurrence: When he was a director of La Scala, in Milan, * competition was announced for the best opera. Toscanini was a member of the jury. A certain quite untalented composer, before presenting his manuicript, spent a long time flattering the famous musician and paying court to him in every way. He asked chat his opera be submitted separately to Toscanini for the latter’s opinion. That opinion was unfavourable. The opera was rejected. Ten years passed, and the talentless composer again met Tos-cr-ini. th’* time in New York. it is n rratt#» -O'>ast,” the composer said to him, “but 1 thould like to know why you i xen refected my opera.” “I didn’t like it,” replied Toscinint “But I am sure, Maestro, that you lever even read it If you had read you could not have failed liking it” “Don’t talk nonsense,” replied Tosb anini, “I remember your manuscript ' perfectly. It’s no good. Listen to this” He sat down at the grand piano ind played from memory several passages from the dead opera which he had rejected ten years before. “No, it’s nc good,” he kept saying as he played. “It’s beneath criticism'”