Presidente del Consiglio comunale Milano, Manfredi Palmeri, announced yesterday in City Hall (Palazzo Marino) that in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the passing of Maestro Guido Cantelli, a commemorative program will be initiated. The most exciting aspect of this commemoration is a brand-new box set containing the 1956 Cantelli recording of "Così fan Tutte" at Teatro alla Scala, as well as an original booklet displaying letters written between Cantelli and Toscanini's son, Walter. (For a glimpse of Cantelli's handwriting, it was preserved on The Bakaleinikoff Tablecloth, located at The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, which was signed by most of the performers and conductors that appeared with the Pittsburgh Symphony between 1946 and 1953.) (And for another bonus, click here for a photo of Cantelli's son with his grandson.) The Cantelli box set is manufactured by the Teatro alla Scala bookstore, and will therefore be exclusively sold at their store within Teatro alla Scala.
Maestro Guido Cantelli was born on April 7, 1920 in Novara, Italy, and started his musical career at age fourteen as the organist at the local church. His directorial debut came at age twenty-one, as director of Theater Coccia (started in 1888 by Toscanini). Only two years later, Cantelli was drafted into the Italian army, and interned in a German labor camp until 1944. He returned triumphantly to Milan later that year to conduct the opening season of Teatro alla Scala (which took place at Castello Sforzesco because of the heavy bombing that Teatro alla Scala endured during the war).
Cantelli's career quickly developed under the nurturing embrace of Arturo Toscanini, who regarded him as a son. Teatro alla Scala officially named Cantelli musical director on November 16, 1956 to succeed Carlo Maria Giulini. But only eight days later, on November 24, 1956, as Cantelli was traveling from Milan to New York City, his plane crashed outside of Orly Airport in France, leaving the musical world in shock. Toscanini, who treasured Cantelli as his family, passed away only two months later without ever being told that Cantelli had died in his thirty-sixth-year.
Despite the recent rush of social engagements this weekend, Opera Chic will try desperately to get to il teatro as soon as possible, to witness the coveted box set (stay tuned)...