Walska's $100,000

The Wagnerian Opera Company has departed disheartened from America. After encountering various misfortunes, culminating in bankruptcy (TIME, Jan. 21) the troupe has taken itself to Europe to seek better success. Just before his departure, Stage Manager Latter-man confirmed the rumor that the company had failed despite munificent support by Mme. Ganna Walska, wife of Harold McCormick, millionaire harvester man. Mme. Walska put funds into the Company to the amount of $100,000.

In return she was to have had her long desired American debut as an opera prima donna. She did sing with the Company in Detroit, Albany, New London. She sang the difficult role of the Countess in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, but under assumed names. Her appearance under her real name was to be reserved for Manhattan. In one Manhattan performance Mme. Walska was about to take her role, but stepped aside to enable a new singer to make her debut. She was to appear in the next performance of the Marriage of Figaro. But that performance never came. The Company, beset by creditors, went into bankruptcy before the opera could be put on. The Wagnerian singers at their departure praised Mme. Walska's voice and personality.

It is said that Josef Stansky former conductor for the Philharmonic orchestra of New York, who had become the chief conductor of the Wagnerian company, likewise lost a considerable sum which he had advanced to keep the troupe going.