Maestro Puts His House in Order

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 455, 10 September 1928, Page 13

Maestro Puts His House in Order

Opera Artists Arrive

BUSY MORNING AT ST. JAMES Monday is generally a bad day, but to start off the week with over a hundred Italians, and highly temperamental artists at that, on one’s hands is not an enviable experience. This was the lot of Mr. Ray Fuller, house manager of St. James’ Theatre, when a special train arrived in Auckland this morning with the FullerGonsalez Grand Opera Company on board. Efficient organisation, however, enabled the management to tackle the situation. Lorry loads of baggage and scenery were quickly dumped on to the stage at the theatre, and just as quickly they were seized by cranes and stowed away in their appointed places. The artists, as all great artists do, immediately dispersed to their hotels to rest, but not so the musicians. Maestro Giovanni Gonsalez was the first to arrive at the theatre this morning. His principal concern was the piano which he lyanted to make quite sure was properly tuned. A big man with a big brass instrument totted away industriously while a blind piano tuner pulled the instrument up to the corresponding pitch. Then he concentrated his attention to the orchestral well. It was not exactly as he wanted it, so stage hands and electricians were called in to put it right. With his own music stand, specially made for the occasion, he appeared to be fairly pleased, except that the top was a little too big. From somewhere about the building Mr. Fuller produced a carpenter, and the sound of sawing mingled with the notes of the piano and the tooting of the big man with the big brass instrument. Finally the maestro appeared satisfied with things musical. For a moment, however, he stood at his dess: an dlooked around. He examined the stage and then turned and gazed intently at the decorated ceiling of the auditorium. Fortunately for the management Maestro Giovanni Gonsalez was quite satisfied with it, and he allowed himself to be taken to lunch. Structural alterations were avoided.