Italian Americans (founded in 1880), but it was the arrival of impresario Giulio Gatti-Casazza in 1908, who brought with him conductor Arturo Toscanini, that made the Met an internationally known musical organization. Many Italian operatic singers and conductors were invited to perform for American audiences, most notably, tenor Enrico Caruso. The premiere of the opera La Fanciulla del West on December 10, 1910, with conductor Toscanini and tenor Caruso, and with the composer Giacomo Puccini in attendance, was a major international success as well as an historic event for the entire Italian American community. Italian Americans became involved in entertainment and sports.
Daniel Rodríguez (tenor) tenor in several operas. He regularly appears in support of his chosen charities, as well as performing a full domestic and international concert schedule. Rodriguez, born in Brooklyn, New York, was the first of two children born to Carmen and Jose Rodriguez, who had emigrated from Puerto Rico as teenagers. Rodriguez' father and grandfather were both tenors, and other family members played various musical instruments. He cites the singing of Mario Lanza as an early musical influence after seeing the movie "The Great Caruso". At the age of ten, he began a serious study of music. His teen years were