MR. MUSGROVE'S OPERA TROUBLES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 67, 12 December 1907, Page 3

MR. MUSGROVE'S OPERA TROUBLES

Mr. Georgo Musgrove's exporiencos with opera singers should make a very readable volume, if over he decides to writo such a book. Even though his German Opera Company is disbanded, tho long catalogue of its troubles has only just closed, as certain proceedings in tho Supromo Court in Melbourne on Wednesday indicated. On that day ui application for a writ of capias against Musgrove was mado to the Chief Justico of Victoria, Sir John Madden, by one of tho principal singers of the company, Hans Mohwinkel. Counsel for tho applicant stated that a writ had bfeon issued on November 26 against the defendant, in which l ihe plaintiff claimed £54, tho amount of a firstclass fare from Melbourne to Genoa, and £5 for second-class faro from Genoa to Berlin. Tlieso sums, it was claimed, were due under an agreemont dated November 4, 1906, but though repeated demands had been made on tho defendant, he had refused, or, at all evonts, neglected to pay. The Chief Justice asked whence the urgency arose in this application ; and counsel oxplained in reply that the plaintiff believed that Musgrovo was about to 'leave that day by the Adelaide express in ordo- to join a steamer proceeding to England. . Tho Chief Justice granted tho ordor asked for, for either the arrest of'the defendant or that ho should give bail that ho would satisfy the claim. Two of tho other members of the company, Fritz Rupp and Karl Foller, issued writs against Musgrovo on Wednesday for certain passage money to Berlin and arroars of salary. Next day it was announced, however, that, a settlement had bcon arrived at. Mr. Musgrovo, who denied that he intondod to leave for England without meeting any claims against him, agreed to provide for the return of ths singers to Europe by any steamer tlioy wished. This was satisfactory to both parties, and hence so far as the majority of the company is concerned, peace and harmony reign once again. Meanwhile no one appears to havo asked Mr. Musgrovo whether lie still proposes to bring out a grand opera compinv ovory two years.