A major event of Tabuteau’s third season with the Met was the December 10, 1910, world premiere of Puccini’s new opera, La Fanciulla del West. Toscanini conducted, with Caruso and Destinn creating the leading roles. John de Lancie remembered Tabuteau once telling him about the rehearsals: “The masses did not have money to go to the opera in New York, so the public would attend dress rehearsals. There were many Italian immigrants. As rehearsals with Toscanini were conducted in Italian, of course they could understand him. Puccini was in the audience. He stood up and spoke to Toscanini about something. Toscanini turned around and said, “I know your music better than you do. Just sit down!”
Wow. That’s all I can say. WOW!
