Gatti-Casazza Giulio
Gatti-Casazza Giulio
Gatti-Casazza, Giulio, distinguished Italian operatic administrator; b. Udine, Feb. 3, 1868; d. Ferrara, Sept. 2, 1940. He was educated at the univs. of Ferrara and Bologna, and graduated from the Naval Engineering School at Genoa. He abandoned his career as engineer and became director of the opera in Ferrara in 1893. His ability attracted the attention of the Viscount di Modrone and A. Boito, who, in 1898, offered him the directorship of La Scala at Milan. During the 10 years of his administration, the institution came to occupy first place among the opera houses of Italy. From 1908 to 1935 he was general director of the Metropolitan Opera in N.Y., a tenure of notable distinction. During his administration, he engaged many celebrated musicians, produced over 175 works, including premieres by American as well as foreign composers, and expanded audiences through major tours and regular nationwide broadcasts. On April 3, 1910, Gatti-Casazza married Frances Alda. After their divorce in 1929, he married Rosina Galli, premiere danseuse and ballet mistress, in 1930. Gatti-Casazza’s Memories of the Opera was posth. publ. in Eng. in 1941.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire