Arturo Toscanini.
Victor De Sabata.
Alberto Erede.
Giuseppe Sinopoli.
Daniele Gatti.
Only five Italians have ever been called to conduct at Bayreuth, more or less like winning the Oskar of the Wagnerite world (the statuette is, of course, a little goose-stepping golden man).
The 46 year old Milanese maestro has spoken to Corriere della Sera about his date with destiny, his debut on July 25 with Parsifal at Bayreuth.
Gatti, an intelligent, serious maestro whose mild manners have not necessarily helped him in the appalling classical music business, already talks the talk:
"Parsifal is one of the greatest creations of human spirit. In its presence, one can only feel like a tiny little ant".
He even sent a small valentines greeting to Riccardo Muti, who on December 6 will open the season at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, one day before Gatti opens la Scala season with Don Carlo.
"I never conducted at la Scala during Muti's years (ed: zing!) but I have the greatest admiration for all his accomplishments, that shall remain forever. As conductors, we had the age of Mahler, the age of Toscanini, the age of Muti. And maybe one day, who knows, we'll have the age of Gatti".