A VARIED CAREER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 20, 14 April 1927, Page 14

A VARIED CAREER

MR. W. GRAY'S EXPERIENCES MINSTRELS TO GRAND OPERA From coloured minstrel to grand opera star. That, briefly, is the career of Mr. Walter Gray, a well-known resident of Auckland. In the old days, at St. Mary’s Hall, Islington, near London, Mr. Gray sat next to Mr. John Fuller, of the Fuller Proprietary. They blacked each other’s faces before the show began. That was in the Mohawk Minstrels, Mr. Gray’s' first stage engagement. The possessor of a fine tenor voice, Mr. Grey was not content to stay on as a minstrel singer. He embarked on a concert platform tour. This led to engagements to sing in grand opera and from then on Mr. Gray had a world ... „ of experience and played many of the principal tenor roles of the famous operas. Mr. Gray was born at Wolverhampton in 1861. At the age of 18 he set out to conquer a world with his voice. 111-health ultimately interfered with his career as a grand opera singer and was the cause of his coming to New Zealand. However he does not regret his life in the Dominion as he has been very happy here. IN GRAND OPERA Mr. Gray’s first opera engagement was with the D’Oyly Carte Company, touring the English provinces with “Patience.” The season lasted for 42 1 weeks and by that time the members of the company found that the performance was no effort. Gilbert and Sullivan operas were then in their first flight of popularity, and the company had a wonderful season. Mr. Gray’s next experience was profitable only from the point of experience. He joined the Royal English Grand Opera Company, but he rarely was paid during the tour. His salary was supposed to be £3 a week, but he received it only once. He played, in “Lily of Killarney,” Don Octavio in “Don Giovanni,” and Thadeus in “The Bohemian Girl.” At the conclusion of this tour Mr. Gray was engaged by the famous J. W. Turner, who had organised his own company. “From then on I spent a very pleasant 12 years,” said Mr. Gray. “Business was good and I received many rises in salary.” The Turner tour ended, Mr. Gray again underteok concert work in the north of Scotland, going as far afield as the Shetland Islands. During the time* he was absent the Carl Rosa Company advertised for his services. This Mr. Gray considered a great honour. After joining the company he went on tour singing the tenor roles: Tonio in “The Daughter of the Regiment,” Eric in “The Flying Dutchman,” and other parts. He sang under Herr Echold, a conductor who was at one time a pupil of Wagner. About this time Mr. Gray’s voice went, as far as grand opera was concerned, and he took the position of professor of voice production at the Glasgow College of Music. The weather affected his health and a brother-in-law advised him to come to New Zealand. This he did, settling at Auckland, where he has remained ever since. EARLY EXPERIENCES During her last , visit to Auckland Madame Melba spent an hour in Mr. Gray’s studio, chatting about music and listening to one of his pupils. Talking of his early days Mr. Gray said that he was in the first company which played “Cavalleria Rusticana” in the English provinces. Altogether he played on over 30 grand operas, in company with some of the celebrated people of the day, including Constance Bellamy, Crystal Duncan, Arthur Winckworth, Josephine Yorke, Ella Russell, Otley Cranstone and Arthur Rousebey. During his career Mr. Gray had played several scenes for other men, about w\iich the public never knew. Once, for F. C. Packard, then a famous tenor, he sang in the Miserere scene in “II Trovatore,” and made a life-long friend "of Packard. On another occasion, during a performance of “Faust,” J. W. Turner, who should have played the part, said to him, “Here Gray, put on this nightgown and beard and go on for me in the first act.” Mr. Gray did, but the public, who adored Turner, did not know that they were applauding Mr. Gray and not their hero.