The Washington times., 1922-12-24

Mile. Muzio, the Soprano, Is
Shocked to Hear That the Wife
of Her Manager, Mrs. Scotto
Threatens to Sue Her for
Alienation of Her Husband
Affections.
n IRIS. Ottavio ScottO, wife of the
N impressariO of the Chicago Opera
~ CO., is reported to have threatened
suit against Mile. MuziO, the Chicago So
pranO, for alternating the affections of
OttaviO ScottO. the Chicago impress
sariO.
That paragraph sounds like some sort
of a joke-but it isn't. 1t is just one of the
varions rows, intrigues. jealousies and
troubles which, as usual marks the opening
of the season of the famous Chicago Grand
Opera Company which has now changed
its name to the Chicago Civic Opera Co.
The season has scarcely begun and yet
q rather more full and varied collection
of squabbles and discords among the
opera stars have been recorded this year
than ever before.
The little paragraph about Mile. Muzio
and the suit by Nine. Ottavio Scotto is not
the first nor the most important of the
new Fall crop of scandals and rows
Nine. Scotto is said to place the sum of
S125,000 as fair valuation on the loss
Of the affections of her husband Ottavio
Scotto And she would like Mile. Claudia
Muzic the Chicago Opera Company
soprano, to pay her that amount.
Nine. Johanna Gadski, another soprano
star, has sued the Opera Company. for
$500, 900 because of something or other
about her husbands loyalty to the Kaiser
having counted against her in the company.
md Nina Morgana modestly fixed the
sum of $1,000 in her suit against the
Opera Company for using a picture of
her charming, features on one of the
programmes without her permission and
after she had quit the company.
But if the big opera stars on the stage
can have their rows and lawsuits, so can
the more humble players in the orchestra
Thus it was that Senor Fabriani, first
violinist, brought suit against the Opera
Company for 100000 because he was
discharged from the orchestra with what
he considers badly damaged reputation.
And the other day when the news
came across the ocean that Nine. Gamma
Walska, former star of the Chicago
Opera Company, was going to try con-
cert tour in America under the manage
ment of the well-known impressario Jules
Daiber, Nine. Luella Meluis, the opera
star. arose and announced that she would
see to IL tnaJ no Sucn tour was Hldue Dy
Gamma because she, Nine. Meluis herself,
had an exclusive contract for Daiber's
services and she would go to the court
and prove it.
The great tenor, Muratore, is not sing
ing with the Chicago company this season.
and there lies tale of Jealousy and in
trigue, according to the gossip behind the
scches.
Joseph Schwarz, leading baritone, re-
cc1tly married to a rich wife, suddenly
~, the other day after row with Busi-
ness Manager Shaw because he turned up
few days late
"Even to sing in Chicago" said the
baritone as he packed up his costumes,
"I would not cut short my honeymoon
with the queenliest woman in the whole
wide world"
But the story Of. the spectacular debut
of John Marshall, the tenor, and how it
forced complete upsetting of the plans
and opera programme of the season.
well, that would fill page all by itself.
And just as this goes to press Miss
Grace Hoist, the Norwegian soprano,
burst into tears and reported that s.
was one of the many Chicago stars who