ing ▁the ▁Com pl iment ▁( 1 8 9 0 ). ▁ ▁Wood ▁re called ▁that ▁his ▁first ▁professional ▁appearance ▁as ▁a ▁conduct or ▁was ▁at ▁a ▁ch oral ▁concert ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 8 8 7 . ▁ ▁Ad ▁h oc ▁engag ements ▁of ▁this ▁kind ▁were ▁common place ▁for ▁organ ists , ▁but ▁they ▁brought ▁little ▁prest ige ▁such ▁as ▁was ▁given ▁to ▁British ▁conduct or - compos ers ▁such ▁as ▁S ull ivan , ▁Charles ▁Vill iers ▁Stan ford ▁and ▁Alexander ▁Mack en zie , ▁or ▁the ▁rising ▁generation ▁of ▁German ▁star ▁conduct ors ▁led ▁by ▁Hans ▁Rich ter ▁and ▁Arthur ▁Nik isch . ▁His ▁first ▁sust ained ▁work ▁as ▁a ▁conduct or ▁was ▁his ▁ 1 8 8 9 ▁appointment ▁as ▁musical ▁director ▁of ▁a ▁small ▁tour ing ▁opera ▁ensemble , ▁the ▁Arthur ▁R ouse by ▁English ▁Tour ing ▁Opera . ▁The ▁company ▁was ▁not ▁of ▁a ▁high ▁standard , ▁with ▁an ▁or chestra ▁of ▁only ▁six ▁players ▁augment ed ▁by ▁local ▁rec ruits ▁at ▁each ▁tour ▁ven ue . ▁Wood ▁eventually ▁negoti ated ▁a ▁release ▁from ▁his ▁contract , ▁and ▁after ▁a ▁brief ▁return ▁to ▁teaching ▁he ▁secured ▁a ▁better ▁appointment ▁as ▁conduct or ▁for ▁the ▁Carl ▁Rosa ▁Opera ▁Company ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 1 . ▁For ▁that ▁company ▁he ▁conducted ▁Car men , ▁The ▁Boh em ian ▁Girl , ▁The ▁D augh ter ▁of ▁the ▁Regiment , ▁Mar it ana , ▁and ▁Il ▁trov atore . ▁This ▁appointment ▁was ▁followed ▁by ▁a ▁similar ▁eng agement ▁with