FIRST LADY CONDUCTOR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 122, 17 December 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

FIRST LADY CONDUCTOR.

Patrons of the popular Promenade Concerts at Queen's Hall were startled a few nights ago to see a woman step on to the conductor's rostrum, in the place of Sir Henry oWod. It was Dr. Ethel Smyth, the first lady to occupy the conductor's stand at a Philharmonic Concert, and the only Englishwoman who has composed grand opera. On this occasion Dr. Smyth conducted her ovetrue to "The Boatswain's Mate,'-' which is a comic opera based on Mr. W. W. Jacob's well-known 6tory; and the enthusiasm which her work aroused was but a repetition of that caused when some time ago she conducted a Queen's Hall recital of her own compositions; for Miss Smyth has established her position in the ranks of British composers, and has a European rep. utation.

She has several operas to her crea.fc, which were produced in Germany before being given in England. "The fore being given in this country. " The Wreckers," after being hailed as a great work in Leipzig and Prague, was produced at His Majesty's Theatre a few years ago, and the composer is fond of telling a quaint story of the first performance there. A stout old lady was dozing comfortably in the front row of the stalls, when suddenly the man with the b ; g drum made a violent attack on the instument. The old lady awoke with a start. "Dear dear!"'she exclaimed, in great annoyan'ce; "that's the third time that horrid man with the drum has wakened me up!" Miss Smyth, who, by the way, was the original of Edith in E. F. Benson's "Dodo," was always, from childhood, deeply interested in musio, and long before she composed a single bar of music was one of the most regular attendants at C'ovent Garden. She confesses to many disappointments and failures before her first success, a violin sonata which Mme. Fanny Davies played. The greatest compliment to Miss Smyth's music was, curiously enough, paid in Berlin. When her second opera, "Der Wald," was produced in the German capital, the critics were very abusive, but in spite of that, after the first performanc© for what is known in Berlin a 6 the "cut rehearsal, "the members of the orchestra cheered Miss Smyth. She was surprised and touched, and remarked : " Well, gentlemen, my opera isnt so bad, is it, in spite ol what the Press said?" Several members of the orchestra growled, 'Oh! the Press!" and then the bass trombone, an enormously fat man, got up slowly and said, "Your opera is magnificent, and we all know it; and some day all the world will know it."