La ScalaWhile serving as general manager of New York's Metropolitan Opera, Gatti-Casazza, having auditioned a mediocre tenor, politely suggested that the singer was perhaps not quite ready for the Met.
"Not ready!" the tenor bellowed. "Why, when I was with La Scala they thought so much of my voice that they insured it for fifty thousand pounds!" "Oh?" Gatti-Casazza replied. "And what did La Scala do with the money?"
[This line also attributed to Miriam Hopkins.]
Gatti-Casazza, Giulio (1869-1940) Italian-born American operatic manager, director of Milan's LaScala (1898-1908)
[Sources: C. Fadiman, ed., Bartlett's Anecdotes]More Giulio Gatti-Casazza anecdotesRelated Anecdote Keywords:
Sarcasm Auditions Witty Replies Insults Bragging Insurance Opera Singing Bad Reviews
View/add Comments [0]
