A glimpse into the early Hector Olivera
Click here for additional early Hector information.

In mid-April, 2001, we received an e-mail from a gentleman (Lucio Guazzotti) from Italy, who stated, simply, that he had discovered Hector's web page on the Internet, and he had some photographs of Hector at age eight, and would Hector like to see them?

Hector had no knowledge of the existence of these photographs.

So, one thing led to another, and several e-mails later, we now have for you some recently re-discovered images of Hector at age 8, and some background information relating to the occasion.

Mr. Lucio Guazzotti started in 1951 to design & construct electronic organs in Buenos Aires. (This was before transistors, and the like, of course. His first organs had 260 vacuum tubes.) By late December of 1954 he wished to unveil his latest model to the public. Lucio (only 21 years old at the time) made arrangements to use an ancient colonial residence, granted by a prominent family of Buenos Aires. It was an important event that was noted in almost all newspapers and radio news. Among those in attendance was the General Consul of Italy; the General Consul of Uruguay; a high officer representing Argentina President Peron; the General Manager of Ricordi Americana, and many more notables. Many prominent musicians, including Mr. Hermes Forti (see photo area below), the foremost Argentinean organist of the time, all were included for the presentation and were invited to play his wonderful new instrument.

Included on the invitation list was pianist Robert Delgado. Mr. Delgado (see photo area below) knew the Olivera family - Hector's father, Carlos, was a church organist - So, the Olivera family was invited to attend. 

Many fine musicians played on the Guazzotti instrument that evening, and at one point Hector was invited to try it as well. The photos below, with their associated captions, describe the "rest of the story."

Hector, at age 8, at the keyboard of the Guazzotti organ concentrating on getting it "just right."	Hector playing with Mr. Hermes Forti looking on. Mr. Guazzotti writes; "after this, Carlos (Hector's father) said that his son was very good skilled in improvisation, so somebody, perhaps Mr. Forti, gave him a short theme. This was immediately developed by Hector into a 4 voice fugue, in perfect baroque style. All in attendance were astonished."
Mr. Guazzotti writes: "Hector in spite of his age, was very curious about the operation of the instrument, so I was trying to explain to him something about its construction & theory." Near Hector, left to right, Hector's father, pianist Robert Delgado & Lucio Guazzotti. Seated, light hair, Hector's mother (now living in Sarasota, Florida near Hector), darker hair, Hector's mother's sister.	A Guazzotti family group portrait - left to right, standing: Mr. Guazzotti's uncle; Mario Pasa; and his wife Antonietta; Lucio's brother Marco; Lucio's mother; Lucio; and Lucio's father. Hector seated on the bench of the Guazzotti two manual electronic organ.
Hector Zeoli, Hector's  organ instructor (started with him in 1953). He was a new graduate of Juilliard, and who introduced  Hector to the possibility of attending the Julliard School of Music in New York. Mr. Zeoli is playing a later Guazzotti model, the Opus 2

Mr. Guazzotti, we thank you for sharing this moment in time for us.