MISS LEATHAM’S RECITAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16822, 21 August 1920, Page 6

MISS LEATHAM’S RECITAL.

A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE. There was a very large audience at the Empire Theatre on Friday evening to hear the pianoforte recital given by Miss Constance Leatham, and the spontamety of the applause winch followed every item was evidence of the intense appreciation by those present of tlie spieadxd performance given by this talented young piamste, of wliom New" Plymouth’ is justifiably very proud. , . Coming fresh from her appearances in recitals in Christchurch and Wellington, it was - not surprising that there was a- large gathering to hear Miss Leatham again, and it is safe to say that it was with an insatiable longing lor more that the audience left the hail at the. close of tlie performance. Miss Leatham has gathered confidence from Jier performances in the southern cities, and her playing last night was even more convincing than in previous recitals here. Her programme was a fairly heavy one, but was sufficiently varied to give ample scope for the display of the full range ot. her gifts. The principal number, of course, wasi the '‘Appassionata Sonata” (Beethoven), which, was brilliantly given with much fine feeling and through which Miss Leatham portrayed many human emotions with deep reality of expression. Her Chopin selections included the “Nocturne Op. 48,” and “Polonaise Op. 58,” and h'er encores included an etude in A flat, and valse in G flat by the same composer. In ail tnese she showed a keen appreciation oT'the subtleties of Chopin, and brought out the beauties of the works with a delicacy of phrasing and a depth and warmth of tone-colouring which were wholly delightful. Two lighter numbers oh the programme were a “Sfherzoo” by Ghrams and Sollees de Vienne” No. 6 in, A (Schubert-Liszt), and Miss Leatham also gave very expressive reading of two Debussy numbers,) including “Clair de Lime” and “Pass Pied.” Her; final number was a somewhat massive selection not often seen on concert programmes, Liszt’s “Polonaise, Cadenza No. 2.” Her other encore items hu eluded the Bach-Tausig “Toccato and Fugue” in D minor (by request), the “Pilgrims’ Chorus,” from Wagner’s “Tannhauser,” and “The Spinning Song” from “The Flying Dutchman” (Wagner-Liszt). Throughout the wTiola performance Miss Leatham never used the score cof any work, which in itself was an achievement of great merit, and she showed not only that she had a very finished technique, but that she possessed thqt which alone can make such a recital successful in the truest sense—a musical temperament. It was in fact an artistic performance of which Miss Leatham may well be proud. She used her own piano for the recital. Mrs. Basham, of Waipukurau, who took the place of Mr. Macdonald who, ■ on account of indisposition was unable to sing, gave for her first number Giordani’s “Caro Alio Ben” (“Turn Once Again”) with much persuasive pleading, and also in striking contrast Bishop’s playful “Should He Upbraid.” Her second programme number was Saint- 1 Sacn’s “Softly Awakes My Heart,” from “Samson and Delilah.” New Plymouth was delighted to welcome Mrs. Basham back to a local concert Elatform and showed its appreciation y demanding recalls on each appearance. Her encore numbers were “Fairy Pipers” and “Weary Wind of thaj West.” Miss Douglas played the accompaniments. Both ladies received several bouquets during the evening, and Air. Hugh Baily, on behalf of the Girls’ Hostel Committee for whom the recital was given, thanked Aliss Leatham and Mrs. Basham for their service.