TRAGIC OPERA BLOW

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 345, 28 January 1937, Page 5

TRAGIC OPERA BLOW

ARTIST KILLED. DAGGER SLIPPED. Unhappy End to Blow From Lawrence Tibbett Press Association —Copyright. New York, Jan. 27. Five hours after receiving a wound in the left hand when a stiletto slipped from the grasp of Lawrence Tiibbett during a dress rehearsal of Capon Sacchi at the State Metropolitan Opera House Jaseph SteTizini, aged 52, bass choral singer, died in hospital. Physicians agreed that the wound was trivial and scarcely could have caused death. An autopsy will be held to-morrow. Sterzini was admitted to hospital, however, and an operation was necessary owing to an artery in the back of his 1 hand being partly severed. It is stated Sterzini rallied well from the anaesthetic but relapsed despite the administration of oxygen. A heart attack and cerebral haemorrhage are advanced as possible causes.

Tibbett was notified just before going on the stage at the Mosque Theatre, Newark, to sing Germont in La Traviata. His associates said he was greatly shaken but went on with his part and the audience was unaware of the great strain under which he was singing.

Opera officials said rhe dagger slipped while Tibibett in the role of Guido Franceschini reached over the shoulder of Sterzini, who was enacting the part of one of the men who seized Guido in the last act struggle.