Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-26
GAMMA WALSkA
ESTABLISH HERSELF
AS 0PERAT!C STAR?
American Music Circles Criti-
cal of Artists Ability to
Stage "Come Back"

Will Nine. Gamma Walska, when she
| makes her much heralded debut at the
| Paris OPERA. establish once and for all
| and before the most highly critical Of
| audiences the truth of the contention
of her well wishers that she is one Of
the foremost of the worlds grand opera
%songbirds? asks a musical writer
the New York Tribune.
And if she SC succeeds, will she later,
in the course of a concert tour she is
to begin in the United States, be given
a contract as one of the leading prima
donnas of the Chicago Grand Opera
company!
These questions were asked in New
| York and Chicago musical and society
circles recently following IN announce
ment by Jules Daiber, Nine. Waiska's
manager, that she would begin her
| American tour during the early part of
January. She is to make her Paris
debut soon in "Rigoletto," Mr.. Daiber
said.
In addition to appearing in New
York, Boston, Palm Beach and Mil
waukee, Nine. Wa1ska is scheduled to
sing in Chicago. whence in December
two years ago she made a hasty and
te~mperamental departure after Gino
Marinuzza, director of the Chicago
Grand Opera company, was reported
to have declined, following a first re-
"Zaza' with Nine. Walska in the lead
ing role.
Mrs. Mccormick Hostile
Later came Nine. Walska's divorce
In Paris from Alexander Smith Coch-
ran. New York ya~chtsman, and her
marriage to Harold f. Mccormick of
Chicago. At about the time of Nine.
Walska's divorce, a like decree was
handed down in Chicago divorcing Mr..
Mccormick and the first Mrs. McCor-
mick. who was Edith Rockefeller, a
daughter of John D. Rockefeller. =
Now, when Director Marinuzzi sent
his "Zaza" ultimatum TO Nine. Walska,
it was reported to have been given only
a few minutes after she had begun the
opening solo of that opera, which he
interrupted by laying down his baton
before the climax.
Coupled with this experience is the
fact that Mrs. Edith Rockefeller Nc
Cormick has. for many years been a
most Influential factor in Chicago grand
opera affairs, and also that her int
mate friends were reported to hay
said she has always held a marked
dislike for Nine. Walska-augmented
since her former husbands 're-marr1age
and that she would use every means
at her command to block the singers
operate plans.
Faces Bin Obstacles
Thus, it is indicated, Mime. Walska
must surmount at least two obstacles
of no mean dimensions to realize the
ambitions said to be closest to her
heart. She must convince hypocritical
Paris that her voice is all her friends
say it is. a difficulty not made easier
by what happened in Chicago, and she
must then, if she is to obtain a con
tract with the Chicago Grand Opera
cope successfully with power
full, a~ntagonistic social influences IN
addition TO what she may be able to
''show Chicago" as to her operate
qualities.
Besides, though this may be irrele-
want, Mary Garden is still O member
of the Chicago Grand Opera company
and has 10 appearances scheduled with
it for this season.
The friends of Nine. Waiska are
wholly sure she will attain full success
in both instances. They assert she met
with remarkable success on a recent
concert tour of southern France,
though recent dispatches were to the
effect that she wore 100000 worth %
jewels before an audience of only 200
persons on making her initial appear
ance at Tours. As to the apparent
Chicago difficulties, Nine. Walska's
friends were certain q Chicago contract
would be offered her. and in addition
pointed out that Mr.. Mccormick also
retains no little social and operate
;nfluence there.