The Washington times., 1925-01-12

|
our own opera company and for the
long struggle in which Edouard Al
bion has now triumphed.
It is more than single incident.
1t prevents. as one person termed
| it. the .sstifling" of the very life
of the Washington Opera Company.
| For If the Injunction against
| Chaliapin appearing here, after he
had signed a personal contract to
do so, had been sustained, no artist
could be free to sing in this or in
any of the rapidly developing civic
operas that the United States is 50
ardently promoting.
Case Won On Law.
The Chicago papers followed the
case with interest. One headline
reads:
"Chaliapin Fights for Privilege
of Supporting National Opera.
Colonel O'Brian told The wash
ington Times representative:
1.-THE case was not won on
technicality. but on the law.
The facts built around the case
in Chicago, which Colonel O'Brian
argued for the Washington Opera
company, have nothing to do with
| the situation in Washington, but
are based on the legal aspects OF
| two contracts which Chaliapin holds
with his personal manager, >.
Hurok, Inc, New York.
Hurok holds two kinds OF con-
| tracts with Chaliapin. representing
the two phases Of the great basso' 8
music activities.
The first is in connection with
his opera engagements, which is used
| in his contracts with the Chicago
Onera Company and also with tl3
Metropolitan Opera Company OF
New York, for which Hurok re-
ceives 8 per cent of Chaliapin's Zee
for the opera engagements.
The second gives Hurok the
right to "book'' Chaliapin S1r
twenty concerts in the United
states and Canada, for fee vi
So 5000 which he is to pay the great
basso at 2 p. IN. on the day ne Is
to sing.
ChaIiapin Free Agent.
Colonel O'Brian found there was
absolutely nothing in the contracts
to prevent Chaliapin from appearing
with the Washington Opera Com
pany.
Clark A. Shaw, tour manager for
the Chicago Opera Company, gave
an affidavit to this effect.
When the Chicago Opera engaged
Chaliapin for a stated number OF
appearances this season, through >.
H6rok, Inc, both contracts, in the
form of two letters, were eXchanged,
for contract.
In the letter to Chicago. for the
opera engagement, it was stated
that Chaliapin was the only person
to consult.
Chaliapin, himself, gives his con-
sent or refusal for all opera con-
tracts. No one acts for him.
"I had to argue the case" Colonel
O'Brian says, ION the presun1ptio
that the contract was the Chicago
Opera contract, leaving Chaliapin
free agent"
In a personal agreement with the
Chicago Opera Company, s. Hurok-
because of a former obligation OF
his own in q business matter WITH
the Chicago Opera Company, gave
his word that he would not advertise
or announce Chaliapin in any city
near the date of the engagement
there of the Chicago Opera Com
pany. This was n voluntary per.
sonaI promise in which Chaliapin
had no part.
The Chicago opera case was based
on this statement from Hurok, not
one with Chaliapin. and in this ext
gency IIurok could not. act FOR
Chaliapin.
The Chicago court gave It's de-
cision. setting aside the injunction
that had been temporarily granted
! to restrain Chaliapin from singing
with the Washington Opera Com
| papy, upon these findings in the
| case.
Other stars i'm Faust"
We have talked so much about
| Chaljapin because of this tangle in
| the progress of our own opera com
| pany, that we are apt to forget
that there are other important stars
| in this production of Gounod' 8
beautiful opera Faust"
The music itself is beloved of all
| the world
| Ralph Errolle, who sings the title
role, won high praise when he sang
| the title role in "Tales of Hoff-
mann" here with the Washington
Opera Company. He has a fine
dramatic voice and is an excellent
actor. So excellent in fact that
now he has risen to the foremost
| opera house in America. the Metro
| politan.
Thalia Sabanieva is also of the
Metropolitan, where she has beer
singing some Of the leading roles
Again jacques Samassoud will con
| duct orchestra and opera, anC
Enrica Clay Dillon is the stage di
rector who h"e 1oen coaching he
Washington singers for many weeks
| Beneath the accomplishments al
this home opera company is the
Shillnd dirartion ~ experienced pro
fessional people. 1t was Miss Dillor
who puF GA 80 - splendid "rn'luc
ton of aida" when the Washing
ton Opera Company presented thai
opera two years ago