Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-20
KISS, Then KICK
MARY GARDEN WAY
Polaoco Joins Chorus Of Pro-
test Against Chicago
Opera Director
U. S. ARTISTS ARE SIGHTED

Chicago, Jan. 20.--The revolt among
artists against the grand opera admin
istration of Mary Garden has assumed
such phase that a secret meeting of
the trustees Of the organization was
held late yesterday. to determine what
salve to apply.
Georgia Polacco, chief conductor. and
his wife, Edith Mason, lyric soprano.
are ready to withdraw when their con-
tracts expire.
Luclen Muratore insisted that LIMA
Cavalier. his wife, Is not in any way
involced In the affair that has caused
so much storm. She has been idle, he
said, for the very good reason that her
doctors forbade her singing.
Muratore showed his contracts. which
called for $500 a performance, not
5000 as reported.
LAS soon as ] learn definitely wheth-
er Miss Garden will or will not be di-
rector general Of the Chicago Opcra
Company next season, then will ] de-
termine what contracts shall sign
for the coming season. continued
Muratore. 81 would not sing under the
direction OF Miss Garden for $4,000 q
night. This have told the trustees of
the company, who have approached me
with contracts for next season. 1t Is
not a question Of money. 1t Is q Ques-
ton. and a positive one, of singing
under the direction OF a colleague. An
artist cannot sing and manage an opera
at the same time.
Home Talent Sighted
~ am my own counselor in bust &.
ness" commented Muratorc. "Why
has Marjorie Maxwell. engaged for
forty appearances, only been per-
mitted two? Why have Edward john
son or Ricardo Martin or George Mar
shall. all great American tenors. not
sung? Because the company Is filed
with foreign stars. America is filled
with great home born opera singers out
Of work, but Miss Garden does her hir-
ing in Europe.
Zone day she kisses; another day
she kicks. One day she says so and
so is another Caruso; another day she
tells the rest of the company that he
has a wooden voice.
Mary Garden says I'm not q good
drawing card-that don't make all tho
money. say let Inc sing by myself
and let Garden sing by hersclf--see then
who makes the most money. I will, of
course.
WRAPS httocu IH Fdy
Miss Garden has wrapped the
American flag around herself in her
statement about American direction Of
the company. What has Miss Garden
done for the native artistsf Nothing
less than was done for them last
eason.'
The break between the orchestra
chief and Miss Garden became critical,
il was learned, when the director. an
gered because Polacco talked back" TO
her, showed him from her Office with
her fists and told him never to speak to
her again.
The incident happened Monday fol-
lowing the performance of 'Pelleas and
Melisande," which Polacco conducted
Some Of tho insiders say Miss Garden
said in plain Chicagoese, Your or.
chestral work Is rotten
Pardon me, Madame" Polacco Ia
quoted by his friend, Muratore. as hav.
ing retorted, "but the orchestra is my
business, not yours"
That was four Mary's' cue TO use
her fist and TO tell PolacCo where to
head out.
Other singers OF the company have
Endorsed Miss Garden, saying that they
will remain loyal to her and sing under
bcr direction next season. Among
those voicing approval were Amelts
CALI. .Curci, Tito Schipa, Rosa Raisa
Vircilio Lazzari, Octave Qua, Ludo
yico Oliviera, Deire Defrere and others