Royal Welsh Ladies' Choir was a performing group of women singers based in Cardiff, active from the 1880s until World War II.
Early years
The Welsh Ladies' Choir was formed about 1883. Clara Novello Davies was its first leader, "a spirited conductress,""Welsh Girls at the Tabernacle" Brooklyn Daily Eagle (October 17, 1893): 2. via Newspapers.com and its members (up to 70 singers) were drawn from her own students. The choir first toured America in 1887. In 1893, they won first prize for a ladies' choir at the Eisteddfod held in connection with the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. In 1894 they became officially "Royal" with a command performance for Queen Victoria at Osborne House. A smaller group (about 24) toured the United States again in 1895."The Welsh Ladies' Choir" Wilkes-Barre Times (October 17, 1895): 6. via Newspapers.com In 1900, they won a prize at the Paris Exposition."Occasional Notes" Musical Times 41(September 1, 1900): 589-590.
Mrs. Hughes-Thomas Madame Hughes-Thomas, the second director of the Royal Welsh Ladies' Choir, was the daughter of Rev. Richard Hughes of Maesteg."Madame Hughes-Thomas, R. A. M." The Cambrian 28(1908): 230. She attended the Royal Academy of Music in London. Hughes-Thomas was the second wife of Edward Thomas, the mayor of Cardiff.William Llewelyn Davies, "Edward Thomas" Dictionary of Welsh Biography (National Library of Wales 2009).
Touring The Royal Welsh Ladies' Choir performed for the King Edward VII at Windsor Castle, and for the King and Queen on the Royal Yacht, at Queen Alexandra Dock in Cardiff in July 1907."South Wales" The Musical Herald (August 1, 1907): 238. The next year (1908) they embarked on a series of extensive tours of North America,"Singers Reach America" Wilkes-Barre Record (September 5, 1908): 5. via Newspapers.com including San Francisco,"Young Women Sing with Remarkable Purity" San Francisco Call (December 1, 1911): 7. Winnipeg,"History and Background of the St. David's Society, Winnipeg", St. David's Society of Winnipeg website. Atlanta,"Royal Welsh Ladies' Choir Sings Here Tuesday"Atlanta Constitution (January 18, 1914): 10. via Newspapers.com and several appearances in the coal towns of the Wyoming Valley."A Musical Treat" Pittston Gazette (September 23, 1908): 4. via Newspapers.com"Welsh Ladies Say 'Au Revoir'" Scranton Republican (December 3, 1908): 7. via Newspapers.com
In 1915, three choir members left in a salary dispute, while the choir was in Detroit. They sued Hughes-Thomas and went off to tour with Canadian entertainer Ada Cosgrove instead."Madame Hughes-Thomas Sued By Three Lady Members of Choir" Glamorgan Gazette (23 April 1915): 6. By 1919, Madame Hughes-Thomas was touring the United States with a group of just eight singers as the choir."Chautauqua Program" Hiawatha Daily World (5 August 1919): 1. via Newspapers.com
In 1920, Dame Nellie Melba praised the choir: "The Royal Welsh Lady Singers are magnificent; they are perfectly splendid, and you may say I said so.""Melba Pays Tribute to Welsh Singers" Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise, and Scimitar (April 29, 1920): 6.
Later years Gertrude Gronow was conducted the choir of twelve to sixteen voices, performing tours in Pennsylvania in Pittston,"Welsh Ladies' Choir Comes to Pittston" Pittston Gazette (January 19, 1927): 7. via Newspapers.com Canonsburg,"Royal Welsh Ladies' Choir Appears Tonight" Daily Notes (20 December 1926): 1. via Newspapers.com and Franklin."Welsh Ladies' Choir to Sing at Conneaut Lake Tomorrow Night" News Herald (2 June 1928): 8. via Newspapers.com In 1928, Clara Novello Davies returned to the helm in 1928 for a royal performance at Windsor Castle before the choir of sixty women departed for an Australian tour."A Tour of the Dominions" The Age (April 28, 1928): 21. via Newspapers.com Muriel Jones conducted the choir in 1939.Welsh Ladies' Choir, a film clip by British Pathé, 1939.
References
External links A publicity brochure for the Royal Welsh Ladies' Choir, in advance of their North American tour in 1908-1911. A diary of the Choir's tour in 1911-1912, written by Elizabeth Anne Clement, is in the collection of the Glamorgan Archives.