The New York herald., 1922-01-21
NO NEW CONTRACTS
FOR CHICAGO OPERA
Samuel insult Says GuarantOrs
Must BE Obtained, or En-
terprise Stops.
500 AT 1000 NEEDED
Civic Association Head Init
mates That Miss Garden
May Not Be Retained.
500 AT $1,000 NEEDED

Special Dispatch to THE NEw YORK HERALD
CHICAGO. Jan. 20.-No contract has
been offered to any member of the Chi
cago Opera Company for next season,
and none viii be offered until the 500
guarantors necessary to underwrite
CJera .sc-c, ss the rate of $1,000 each a
year for five years. have been obtained.
tanned.
This assertion was made to-day by
Samuel insult, president of the Civic
Opera Association, who took the occa-
sion to express his opinion OF foreign
artists who presume to say what they
will do to and for the opera company.
He likewise said that Miss Mary Gar
den has been elected to direct the
fortunes of the company for another
season--if there is to be another season.
mo French or Italian singer is going
to dictate the affairs of opera here"
Mr.. insult declared. "If they keep on
saying that they are going to do this
or that, stating that contracts have been
offered to them, and so on. when they
have not been offered contracts. then
] am going to stop talking about opera
altogether.
No Contracts Offered.
Contracts have not been offered to
anybody connected with the company
by any one authorized to do so. am
president of the association that is re-
sponsible for a succeeding season of
opera here, and If any contracts are to
be offered to anybody they must bear
my signature and be offered with my
knowledge. If they are offered without
my knowledge as president Of the board
they have no value.
mo contracts have been offered with
my knowledge or with my signature.
No contracts will be offered until the
500 guarantors have been secured"
The president Of the opera associa-
ton cleared up another point that has
been interesting opera adherents when
he said that Miss Garden had been
elected" to succeed herself as director
general of the opera company's artistic
affairs next season. This is interpreted
to mean In opera circles that Miss Car
den has no contract covering the direc-
torship.
Gardens Retirement RumOred.
Rumors, circulated in opera circles
for some days, that Miss Garden would
retire as director before the next sea-
son opens continue to-day.
Reports circulated that Mr.. insult and
other members of the board of directors
of the new underwriting organization
held a long conference with Giorgio
Polacco. principal conductor Nine. Edith
Mason Polacco and others OF the COM
rany were denied to-day by Mr.. insult.
Mr.. Polacco and Nine. Polacco. who
Lucien Muratore said yesterday had
been at odds with Miss Garden, re-
fused to comment on the subject.
M. Muratore, whose statements crc-
ated such a furore in opera circles. left
Chicago late yesterday for New York.
He was accompanied by his wife, Nine.
Lima Cavalieri.
The following message was received
in New York by Miss Anne Morgan yes
terday in answer to one she sent the
manager of the Chicago Opera Company
when word spread that due to differences
between Miss Mary Garden and Lucien
Muratore the latter would not sing In
the production of "Salome" at the Man.
haitian Opera House Saturday, February
4, at the benefit for the American Com
mittce for Devastated France:
"Ycu can make positive announcement
that Muratorc will appear with the Chi
cago Opera Association in New York
city as scheduled. All his announce
mcnts pertain TO next season and in no
way affect our arrangements covering
his services this season.
&C. a. SHAW"