THAMES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 7, 18 August 1909, Page 63

THAMES.

Ladies’ Musical Society. Seldom is it that Thames audiences are given such a good musical menu as was presented by the members of the Ladies’ Musical Society last week. For some time the need of such a society has been apparent to _ musiclovers, whose thanks are now due to Mr. Leo Whittaker for its inauguration and success. As a conductor as well as Thames’ foremost musician, Mr. Whittaker ranks high, while Miss Foy, who undertook the duties of accompanist, is in every way capable. The programme submitted was varied and well chosen, and highly appreciated by the large audience. The society rendered the part songs, “Rise Again, Glad Summer Time” and “The Swallow,” by Henry Leslie; “Blanche of Provence,” “Spring Flowers,” “Twilight,” and “Diekory Dock,” and the cantata “Mary Stuart,” in whieh the principal parts were taken by Mrs. A. Hetherington as Mvy, Queen of Scots, Miss Gibbons as Mary Seaton, and Miss L. Price as Rolandi. Mrs. Hetherington, who was in excellent voice, delivered her soli with much dramatic power and’ pathos. The Misses Gibbons and Price gave a pleasing rendition of their duet, “Beloved Queen,” which earned a well-merited recall; while the unaccompanied trio was quite one of the best efforts of the evening. Miss O’Callaghan gave pleasure in her couple of soli, “The Rose and the Bud,” and “Happy Song”; and Mrs. Baker and the Misses Read were heard to advantage in the trio, “A Spring Morning.” Miss Whittaker’S well-trained voice was enjoyed in Tosti’s “Spring,” and the versatile lady also gave with her brother the duet for pianoforte—Greig’s “Danse d’Anitra.” Miss Gibbons, who is a new singer to Thames concert-goers, won the approbation of all in her items. The duet “Awake” (Pelissi.cr), in whieh she took part with Miss Murphy, gained unstinted applan.se.