THE LADY FROM LOUISIANA

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18365, 24 April 1925, Page 22

THE LADY FROM LOUISIANA

MISS THOMAS'S SECOND CONCERT. When talent and personality arc. so happily combined as in the case of Miss/ Edna Thomas, the attraction of the musical artist is irresistible. It caused no surprise that again, last night, ovcry seat in the Choral Hall was occupied. In the main her programme was a replica, of the first. This time she met ua no longer apprehensive of her impression, but with u radiant smile. Translated into English it meant: "I like you Christ' church people.'' The feeling is mutual. Then she began her long list" of "Spirituals," well contrasted in sentiment, the gay, the sweet, tho frivolous, between tho sad and mournful. Among the number were: "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." "I Wanna be Heady," "Gp Down, Moses," " Down, Down Dea.th,'' "Some of These Days," and "The Waterboy," which were exquisitely presented, but every other turn was a little work or art. One will long remember the heartbreaking '' Yes, yes, yes," of hers in "Mammy, is Massa Gwinna Sell Us," the one word touching the very depth of human despair. In the section of Spirituals alone some fifteen numbers were given. The group of street cries included the oyster, the corn, and tho biscuit-seller, each characteristic and amusingly copied. Then followed tho whole charming group of Creole Negro Songs, with Miss Lucile Lawrence's harp accompaniment, very daintily and elegantly sung as it was played. The majority of these Creole songs, however, was accompanied on the piano by Miss Constance Piper with the samo finish as already recorded; in these Miss Thomas surpasses, especially in the vivacious types, all her previous offerings; she allows a freer display of her voice, and charms by the subtlety of her inflections and the lightness of her touch. Her sense of humour, in speech as in song, provokes ripples of laughter all over the house. "Madame Cabas," "Danse, Conni, Connain," "M'sieu Banjo"— well, one woul,d like to quoto each one j of these delightful Trench chansons, and describe in detail.

That gifted little artist, Miss Lucilo Lawrence, gave us a lovely set of solos on the ''cello, a "Jtigaudon," bjr Ramcau, a Gigue by Corelli, very skilfully played, and, best of all, " Nocturne, " with perfect taste and beauty of expression. In all, another dolightful cveciug! Another coneert will be hold to-nighti