The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-03-18
Pathway to Stnrdom
Long, But Fascinating,
Mary Cauan Declares
BIZ }. Mach.

| NJ y. musbs
Mary Cayan-or, as they cAlle this
opera soprano when she sang at the
Prague opera In Bohemia, Mary
Cavanoya--is a radiant yet very
earnest personification OF art-enthu-
siasm that means success In art. Ana
Mary Cavan has succeeded. Her Media
! In "PagIiacci" witty the Washington
Opera Company This week demon
strates that.
A talk with Mary Caysn--Amerfsan
girl that she Isis an opera page
and stirring one-full OF facts for
American singers. She sang three
years with the Chicago opera. she
was In her first student years, ana
the great occasion" did not arrive.
| She went to Europe. sang-always
In opera-studied. and finally took
leading parts with a climax when
she was given the role OF Mimi In
LA Boheme" with Caruso.
| But-the pathway?
Mary cavan 10 eager for the wash
ington opera to flourish. To this END
she and her Czecho-Slovak husband.
Otakar Marak-who was so great In
his rendition OF canio and In his
splendid voice Monday night-have
given their services.
As "Gusst- Star. In Europe.
why7 Wen. in Bohemia they have
sung in many such opera companies.
This idea is not new except to Amer
lea
They went with their gifts OF frank
lncense-no, with their splendid opera
portraitures and added to many
local group of chorus and few prin-
cipais' their own masterpieces, there
by bringing the entire art or these
opera houses UP to their standard.
| That is what is happening TO us
now in Washington.
Do you see IT?
| you, arrived by what pathway.
Miss CavanT'
why, just by opportunity" and
! her eyes sparkled. TT was doing it,
singing the operas over and over
| again, and then working out the roles
in the finest details.
| But opportunity! You must have
| it, You see the star must sing for
some time in the operas. must know
! them before the star opportunity
| comes.
| His best role. I think" and she
| looked across at her husband. sis in
| Pique Dame'-we sing II together
And then one discovered that these
two artists cared intensely for Puc-
chi. They have all his operas in
| their repertory.
There is something ! suppose in
u.s." Miss Cavan said naively. that
Just must find expression. and the
opera gives this something. II We
could not express II. why, I think
| we'd just-eNplode"
There you have IT, That was the
| American girl. II must have been
that very American spirit that gave
zest to her singing OF The Girl of
| the Golden West" in which her press
| notices show she pleased more than
a british confrere. She would-any
American could feel IL in her blood.
American Temperament.
Mary Cavan was arguing for Amer
| lean temperament more than she
knew. why, that very American
vitality is a boon to art. providing
we remember that with 1T the ideals
and the traditions of art must pre-
| dominate.
And repertory' 1t IL marvel
you young singers have such big
| repertories.
I'VE simply live in that world. But
| then we have time for other things
time to help. A lad came to me the
other day in New York He had
! lovely tenor voice, was but twenty
one and longed to study. But he
was tired. He stood ten hours day