Few people have any idea of how many persons and how many departments
are connected with the opera and its presentation. Considering them in
order, they might be classed as follows:
The General Manager and his assistants.
The Musical Director and his assistants.
The Stage Director and his assistants.
The Technical Director and his assistants.
The Business Director and his assistants.
The Wardrobe Director and his assistants.
The Master of Properties and his assistants.
The Head Engineer and his assistants.
The Accountant and his assistants.
The Advertising Manager and his assistants.
The Press Representatives and his assistants.
The Superintendent and his assistants.
The Head Usher and his assistants.
The Electrician and his assistants.
Few of these important and necessary factors in the production ever
appear before the public. Like the miners who supply us with the wealth
of the earth, they work, as it were, underground. No one is more
directly concerned with making the production than the Technical
Director. In that we are fortunate in having the views of Mr. Edward
Siedle, Technical Director of the Metropolitan Opera Company, of New
York. The complete picture that the public sees is made under the
supervision of Mr. Siedle, and during the actual production he is
responsible for all of the technical details. His experience has
extended over a great many years in different countries. He writes: