THELMA PETERSEN CONCERT

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 58, 7 March 1912, Page 8

THELMA PETERSEN CONCERT

Despite the inclement weather last night there was a very good attendance \ in the concert chamber of the Town Hall ' to hear the young contralto Miss Theima Petersen. She was assisted by several well-known local performers, and a very good programme was submitted. The concert-gavcr is a young lady, seventeen years of age, who is the possessor oi a fine contralto, rich in timbre in all registers. She wa.s born in Wellington, and rcre-ived her vocal training from her mother. She has a pleasing and winning manner, and while singing her whole heart is in her work. Her voice has great possibilities, and concerts are now being g*ven to obtain funds to send Miss Petersen abroad to continue her studies. Liddle's "Abide With Me" introduced the talented vocalist to the audience, and she gave a good performance of thia favourite 'ballad. Her low notes were deep and musical in quality, and her upper notes were given wrhh foree and roundness of tone, while nice fpeling was infused into the interpretation. At the iciose Miss Petersen was warmly recalled, and handed several handsome floral tributes, after which she gave the ballad "Yesterday'' with nice -"tTert. Handel's recitative, " Prondi Tcnere" was clearly rendered, and the aria "Om bra mai fu." Teceived an expressive and broad reading. At its conclusion, in res-ponsc to a hearty encore. the song "I Kjiow Not Why" was archly given. Miss Petersen also gave, with much acceptance, McGeoch's "Soothsayer Marguerite." and Niven's "The Rosary.'' Pibelius' "The Tryst" received an adequate performance by Madame Wielaert, for whieh she was encored, and the same cantntricc gave, with taste, Liddles "A Pearl for Every Tea.r," and an acceptable delivery of Bell's '"Neath Summer Hills." For her admirable interpretation of TV Beriot's " Fantasia," Msse Ina Bosworth was reservedly recalled, when she p'ayed a Wiemaski "Mazurka," Mr. H. W. Manning gave successful renderings of Handel's " Droop Not, Young lover "and Korbay's "Shepherd, See Thy Horse's Foaming Mane," securing, after e.irli solo, hearty applause. Mr. F. Adear : e was heard in Tosti's "My Dreams" and Mr. H. M. Cardon was encored after his recitation. Miss M. Lusher gave an interesting performance of a part at P.eethoven's Sonata. Op. 31, No. 3, and for her tasteful delivery of Chaminade's "Aniomnc" was encore I. The aecompnnimcn*s were executed by Misses Eileen Hughes, M. Lusher, Mr. C L. Petersen and Herr Wielaert.