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Bob’s
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Reviews — The New York Times
From the New York Times January 21, 1909
MISS GARDEN WINS
FIGHT OVER ‘THAIS’
Hammerstein Withdraws
Miss Cavalieri in Deference to
Other Singer’s Protests.
MISS GARDEN RESIGNED
Wrote Hammerstein She Had Quit
When Advertisement for the
New Thais Appeared.
My Dear Mr. Hammerstein: On Monday afternoon, when you told me that you were to engage Mme Cavalieri to sing “Thaïs,” I said to you that the day this announcement was advertised in the newspapers I would leave the Manhattan Opera House. This morning the published announcement appeared, and accordingly I hereby send you my resignation.
MARY GARDEN
Jan. 20 1909.
As soon as Mr. Hammerstein received Miss Garden’s letter he issued this statement:
In relation to my contracts with my artists I generally make two of them. One is a written one; he other an unwritten one. The latter is based upon mutual respect and loyalty. Miss Garden has ever been loyal and faithful to me. Our relations are of the most friendly character. If the occurrence has caused her anguish I deem it my duty to remove the cause.
Mr. Hammerstein then ordered the announcement that Miss Cavalieri was to appear in “Thaïs” to be stricken from the bill of next week. Whether or not this concession on Mr. Hammerstein’s part will cause Miss Garden to withdraw her resignation could not be learned, as it was said at her apartments last night that she had left the city and would not return until to-day. Mr. Hammerstein, however, said that he thought all trouble would be averted and that Miss Garden would consent to sing in “Thaïs” tomorrow night, and also in “Salomé” at its first performance a week from tonight. He said that if she continued in her refusal to sing, Miss Cavalieri would take her place to-morrow night and that both Mlle. Labia and Mlle. Cavalieri were rehearsing the title rôle in “Salomé,” and would sing it if necessary.
“I have only the kindest feelings toward Miss Garden,” said Mr. Hammerstein last night at the Manhattan Opera House, “and I consider her resignation the result of overwrought nerves. She has been working night and day on ‘Salomé’ and has become tired out. I feel sure that when Miss Garden, Miss Cavalieri, and myself are able to discuss the matter calmly we will reach an agreement.
“I engaged Miss Cavalieri solely to help Miss Garden out in her work. Her rehearsals have tired her, and I did not see how she could possible attend to ‘Salomé,’ ‘Pelleas et Melisande,’ ‘Louise,’ and ‘Thaïs’ at the same time. The fact that I engaged Miss Cavalieri for only six performances is ample proof that I did not mean to cast the slightest slur upon Miss Garden.
“Even should Miss Garden persist in her present course I have laid plans whereby all crises may be met. Mlle. Labia and Miss Cavalieri are both rehearsing “Salomé,” and can sing the part if necessary, and I have even thought of cabling to Mme. A‹no Ackte, who has made a great success in the opera in Europe. Mlle Espinasse can sing ‘Louise,’ so you see not one woman, not even Miss Garden, is absolutely necessary to me.
“Much as I respect and admire Miss Garden, I must be fair with Miss Cavalieri as well, and I cannot deal with her unjustly. But I am sure that Miss Garden will come to look at things in a calmer manner. She is too fine and fair minded a woman to do otherwise.
“Of course Miss Garden has no right to resign from my company. I have a four-year contract with her, and if she breaks it I can hold her for damages even if I cannot compel her to sing.”:
Mary Garden said yesterday afternoon that she had sent in her resignation, and would never sing again at the Manhattan Opera House unless a new contract was made with her.
“Matters stand as they are at present,” said Miss Garden. “I do not know whether or not I shall sing in ‘Salomé.’ I do not like Mr. Hammerstein’s attitude toward me, and when he now speaks of his friendship for me I wonder why he spoke to me as he did. On Monday afternoon I told him that as long as I remained in his company I should never allow an Italian artist to sing in one of my French parts. He answered me by saying that he ‘had done without me before, and that he could do without me again.’ Such words as those do not bear the mark of true friendship.
“I am not in the least jealous of Miss Cavalieri and would be only too happy to have her sing in Italian roles. But ‘Thais’ is a French opera. I have fought hard for the modern French school and know how it should be interpreted. I brought the opera to America and feel that I alone in this country have the right to appear in it.”
Mme. Cavalieri refused to see any newspaper men yesterday, her brother saying that Miss Garden’s objections to her singing had caused a nervous attack that confined her to her bed.
“My sister wishes me to say,” said Miss Cavalieri’s brother, “that she intends to appear in ‘Thais’ if Mr. Hammerstein wishes it, whatever Miss Garden may say. Miss Garden’s interpretation of the part is very fine, but it is not the only possible interpretation. My sister has another one which might also be interesting, and as she appeared in the part in Paris even before Miss Garden did, it is absurd for Miss Garden to object.
“Mr. Hammerstein asked my sister to sing in four operas, ‘Tosca,’ ‘La Boheme,’ ‘Thaïs,’ and ‘Pagliacci,’ and she is simply following Mr. Hammerstein’s instructions.”
Miss Garden was not present at the rehearsal of “Salome” at the Manhattan Opera House yesterday afternoon. It was the first time that the singers had rehearsed with the orchestra, and all the artist were present with the exception of Miss Garden.
Last updated December 29, 2006