By Dennis McCaslin - Today in Fort Smith
A woman who was born into relative obscurity in Yell County in 1889 rose to unparalleled heights in the world of classical opera in the first three decades of the 20th century.
Her journey from an obscure Arkansas beginning to an international opera star is a testament to her talent and determination.
Growing up in a modest household, her parents, William and Mary Harris, supported her budding interest in music despite their limited means. From a young age, McCormic showed a remarkable talent for singing. She attended public school in both Ola and Dardanelle and even at an early age was regionally heralded for her "once in a lifetime" talent.
She pursued her education at Ouachita College, thanks in part to scholarships, and later at the University of Arkansas, where she continued to hone her vocal skills. Her early life was marked by a blend of rural simplicity and a growing passion for music, which eventually led her to Northwestern University for further studies.
McCormic’s operatic debut came in the 1921-1922 season as Micaela in Carmen. She quickly gained recognition and was referred to as “the Cowgirl Soprano” by The New York Times.
Her career spanned over a decade, with notable performances at the Paris National Opera, the Opéra-Comique, the Monte Carlo Opera, and the Chicago Civic Opera. She was the first American woman in 60 years to sign a long-term contract with the Opéra-Comique.
Some of her most memorable roles included Musetta in La Bohème, the title role in Manon, and a special presentation of Romeo and Juliet at the Paris Opera House. Her performances were characterized by her powerful voice and captivating stage presence, earning her acclaim across Europe and the United States.
Mary McCormic’s personal life was as colorful as her career. She was married four times, each union reflecting different phases of her life:
In 1908 at the age of 19, McCormic married Kenneth Joseph Rankin who served in the US Signal Corp during WWI. Her first marriage ended in divorce after eight years.
Her second husband was Chester Adrian Macormic:. The details of this marriage are less documented, but it also ended in divorce. It appears they were married shortly after McCormic's divorce to Rankin. Rankin was married to another woman in 1908 and the general consensus is he left his wife after a scandalous affair with the opera star.
In 1931, McCormic married Prince Serge M’Divani, a displaced heir to a Georgian monarchy. had married actress Pola Negri in 1927, but when she lost her fortune in the Stock Market Crash of 1929, he abandoned her and married McCormic, who divorced him in a highly publicized trial less than two years later.
In 1936, McCormic married her fourth and final husband, a man named H.V. Johannsen. Her final marriage also ended in divorce after just one year.
Shortly after her divorce from Johannsen, McCormic announced her intention to marry New York businessman Harry Bannister. A few months later, with much fanfare in the press around the world, McCormic announced the engagement was off without specifying a reason.
Despite the turbulence in her personal life, McCormic remained a resilient and dedicated artist.
After retiring from the stage, McCormic became a professor of opera at the University of North Texas College of Music from 1945 to 1960. She dedicated her later years to teaching and mentoring the next generation of opera singers.
Mary McCormic passed away on February 10, 1981, in Amarillo, Texas, at the age of 91. She is buried in the Liano Cemtery in that city.
