At La Scala

Toscanini is at last putting on at La Scala of Milan Boito Nerone-- that opera by the interesting composer of Mefistofele who was at the same time one of the most distinguished poets of Italy and the literary collaborator with Verdi in Otello and Falstaff. For the leading soprano role the conductor has selected Rosa Raisa, dramatic soprano of the Chicago Opera Company. This, of course, is a distinguished honor and one well deserved by the lady of the great ringing voice. Time was when the season's list of singers at La Scala held the elite of the world's vocalists. To sing at the celebrated opera house of Milan was a crowning honor; to be selected for a very important premier, an election to Parnassus. But since the War vocal things have gone badly all over Europe, and Italy (while comparatively in very good shape) has not avoided harm. The best Italian singers are in America. Recent operatic performances at La Scala have been most distinguished, but not out of any plenitude of superlative voices. The glory has rested with the orchestral and ensemble elements of the performances. Toscanini is the world's supreme conductor. By sheer mastery of nuance arid phrase and tone building in the mass he is able to lift an opera to a plane where the qualities of the solo voices count for little.