AN IMPRESSARIO’S TROUBLES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8858, 8 July 1907, Page 2

AN IMPRESSARIO’S TROUBLES.

Press Association-Copyright,

Sydney, July 7.

Serious charges have been levelled by Mr Musgrove against the leading members of the "German Opera Company. The public have been disappointed on several occasions by the change of programme, even after they have taken their ceats. Matters reached a climax last night. Hitherto the ostensible reason given for the changes was the illness of this or that principal, but the frequency of such occurrences might lead to the belief that an epidemic was raging in the company. Friday’s matinee had to be abandoned, and the money returned.

Last night “Valkyrie” was staged, in which one of the leading performers does not appear- until the second act. ■ She did not come on at all. Then the company agreed to sing “The Flying Dutchman.” The scenery for this had already been packed" for New Zealand, but was unpacked rapidly. The performance commenced and then, Mr Musgrove asserts, tho husband of tho singer in this piece w'ould not allow her to go on unless certain demands were fulfilled. Her part was eventually taken by a chorus girl, and the opera was carried through. Mr Musgrove, in a bitter interview, declares it is almost impossible to believe that all these incidents of illness have not some connected base.

A statement made on behalf of the Opera Company blames Mr Musgrove for not having had the parts doubled in the “Valkyrie.”