The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-23
MARY GARDEN ID
 PUT GINGER INTO
 AMERICAN OPERA
Prima Donna Has Taken on Big Job in Directing Chicago's Chief Musical Enterprise
 But Will Win
By Associated Press

opera companies, in short to be the dic-
 tator of the enterprise, Mary Garden
 outlined today what she thought opera
 should mean throughout the United States.
 Miss Garden, known in Chicago and in numerous other American cities as "our
 Mary was appointed to the joint role fof a star artistic director and business manager of the Chicago Opera associa- ton early this month Mary Garden s ambition is to make opera and herself jas well loved by the people of the whole United States as she is by the people of Chicago.
 Enthusiasm, fervor. hard work, con-
 stant supervision, strict economy and
 only a few things that Miss Garden
 promises to show the people of America that she has in her and is capable of
 producing.
 'sMusic. real music, said Miss Garden, t"is being borne on the high tide of pop
 ularity, through the marvellous phono-
 graph and pianola, into the homes of al-
 most every family in this country. l hope to take advantage of this and by hard work, bring opera up to the place that it deserves in the hearts Of the people Wouldn't it be wonderful, if by doing this will have made them love Iopera and me as well as the people of IChieago have convinced me that they Hove me?"
 DESERVES THE BEST
 Constant supervision insstence on having her every performances as per feet as it was possible to get it, through Doth the supporting company and the equipment is designed by Miss Garden as probably the chief reason that the board of directors of the Chicago Opera company have seen fit to place her in the position that was held for years by Cieofonte Campanini.
 "The public makes opera possible and I think that the public deserves the svery best that can be assembled added Miss Garden. Some artists have said that Garden gets everything she wants
 No wonder she is success have fought argued. criticized and insisted on my performance receiving the sest treat nent possible because l knew the public wanted this as well as l. I believed l was right and I fought for my own ideas As a rule I realized them.
 Miss Garden is strongly of the opinion that the people of today want modern operas and as she was instrumental in introducing the modern grand opera, she said that naturally she intends to carry out her ideas with the Chicago Opera company along these lines.
 q shall produce half French and half Italian operas, she said. "But at least ] one American opera during a season should be produced and shall try for this. I do not believe in translations. They have proven failure.
 MEANS WORK
 You will remember that made my premiere in Paris in the title role Of ssLouise.' This was really one of the first of the, modern operas to be produced. Ut was some few years later that I in lterested Mr. Hammerstein in the produc- ttion of the modern operas in New York. History tells you the result. We had several very shaky seasons and then it unfortunately failed but the idea was good and the critics were forced to the fact that the public wanted modern opera and we have brought it on to Chicago. The people of today want the music of today and the presentation of the old should never be attempted unless you have some one whom you know is capable of singing the part. This too, may have 1 had some effect on the board of dircc- l tors in selecting me as the head of the | opera.
 Miss Garden apparently realized the | task she has undertaken, for she says: | Work. know it means work. and l am a woman, but it has simply warmed 1 hy heart to find that I have the solid ] support of everyone. It seems that ] everyone is wishing my success. I realize the position is not easy, yet | small obstacles that have apparently | confronted others I believe have been l overcome merely by my appointment 1 It is silly to think that these operatic l artists cannot be handled, owing to l their speaking several different lam guages They are simply children and when one knows that and treats them huma nly and not as the dirt under ones feet any trouble along the line com plained of will instantly disappear They are loyal to the very core and | this phase of the position gives me no worry whatever"
 That Miss Garden is business 1 woman with far more than the usual business acumen credited to star on l the artistic horizon, was shown by her announcement that economy must be We must be economical" she said. "and I know that it is pos sible to do so, for the good of all, and this includes the public. For every dollar spent we must find dollar re- turned in service or equipment. I
 PAY IS UNKNOWN
 'T do not at this time know how much the operatic artists of the Chi cago company are being paid. Neither do I know how much properties coA. 1 have ideas of the relative pay that think the artists should receive. will give you an example: If Mme. Galli- Curcs sings in an opera here, the eouse will be packed until every seat Is filled, wlll 1t not? They have come to hear Mime. Galli- li-Curci She Is the 5rawing card and should be paid &C., eordingfy. Her support should be paid Tn proportion. Suppose you produced fhe same opera with the same cast, 1 with the exception of Mime. Gal1I- vurci? Would it prove the same irawing card? Of course not.
 This is only fairness to all and shall work along this line.
 You know the appointment came to | ne in the most sudden manner. was sitting at my piano, practicing. when hr. Harold p. Mccormick entered and 'sked me to step dowpstairs, as the ,oard Of directors wanted to see me. asked him what it was about and 1e answered: About the opera, II went. and question after question vas 'ired at me. I answered them all and old my opinions. was never selffsh1 l n keeping my ideas to myself, when [ | law, ,that by giving them to others the lrt could be benefited. I then came 'ack to my room and2 at that time I had 10 idea of what was to follow. Shortiv Lfterward MT. Mccormick came fn ana n most moderate. tone said: ~rhe 'oard of directors have unanimouslv lected you to fill Campanini's place. 20 you accept? never hesitated. Mv nswer was, yes and my ambition is Q place opera foremost in the minds f America"
 Theological Masterpieces
 Possibly the most remarkable of | S. es of clocks which deliver phonoxraphic | 1e1sAges is one invented seven vAars |