The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-20
WALSkA DENIES.
OPERA FIGHT
TALES
Beautiful Singer Breaks Long
SiIence-WiII Appear in
Washington.
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Continued from First Page.)
flattered because full houses had
been sold throughout her tour. It
enraged her to think that the
American public was coming to
hear her out of curiosity rather
than through motives of artistic
admiration. She pleaded for Amer
lea to judge her by her ability to
sing and not by front-page news
paper stories.
AS Mrs. Harold Mccormick (which
she admits is very nice thing to
bel Madame Walska has considered
her activities heretofore her own
private business. But today, as an
artist, she was willing to speak
out and put an end to unfounded
tongue wagging which has caused
her anguish.
Until last night no one in this
country knew how she could sing,
Nine. Walska said, for her career
was limited to one and only one
appearance. On that occasion she
sicale in New York with CarusO,
singing duets with him in addition
to her own solos.
With a bit Of irony mingled with
humor, she said she had never
hear anything of that concert.
Why? Because it was good-a sue
cess, and therefore Nine. Walska
thinks there was nothing for the
critics to comment on.
Unknown i'm Those Days.
She was unknown in those days,
she says. But now, with the news
papers full OF her divorce and mar
riage and alleged scandal with the
is eager to hear her. She seems
to hear the audience say:
ooh, that is Nine. Walska, who
had the terrible fight with Mari
nusi, and whoe voice broke so
badly Marinusi would not have her
sing in Taxa
Now. that whole story IS untrue,
according to the singer. She could
not have quarreled with the con-
ductor, Marinusi, because he was
not even chosen to conduct the per-
Torrance. Cimini was to have been
the conductor.
Marinusi, therefore, could not
have torn his hair over Nine.
Walski's singing at rehearsal OF
the opera, as reported; she said, more
than that, there never was re-
hearsal because the contraltO, for
whom the company was waiting, did
not arrive from Paris, and there was
further delay in finding a child &C.
tress for a part in the opera.
Subject of Unjust Tales.
In the meantime a personal mat
ter arose, and Nine. Walska left Chi
cago for New York and sailed I'M
mediately for Europe, maintaining
her characteristic silence. Immedi-
ately stories were circulated about
her and her failure to appear in
"Zaza." Since that day she has been
subjected to unjust tales, she said,
many designed to infer that she has
no voice.
Another story which grieved her
was the rumor that she and Mary
Garden had quarreled and that Mary
Garden was jealous of her. This
could not have been, for Mary Garden
was not in Chicago while Nine
Walska was there, and the two had
not even met at that time.
Nine. Walska was engaged for the
first part of the season and Mary
Garden Tor the second. since then,
however, the two opera stars have
met in Paris, and Nine. Walska ex-
pressed great happiness to have met
the artistic.
Madame Walska pointed out that
the Chicago Opera Company had
plenty of scandal last season, al
though she was not there and none
of it could have been blamed on
her. However, the year before
when she was member of the
company they we're telling that
Marinus4 left on her account be-
sides other false tales.
Wears Beautiful Gems.
The slender Polish beauty wore a
Callot gown at her debut here. 1t
was a striking creation of violet
velvet, the shade of her eyes, en-
broidered heavily in fine pearls. Cut
quite low in the neck, and falling
in princess lines of the Renaissance
style, it trailed off in point of
velvet and pearls.
She wore her famous pearls in
one strand reaching to her knees,