LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - MARCH 26, 2023 by Lynne Belluscio Her name was Meta Reddish. And although she was born south of LeRoy in Wyoming, her family moved to LeRoy in 1897 and lived on Lake Street. Her father was in the patent medicine business. Meta and her brother Claude shared a love of music although I haven’t discovered who they studied with while they lived in LeRoy. Claude graduated from LeRoy High School in 1902 and went on to Syracuse University. In 1908, Meta went to New York City to further her music studies. She was a coloratura soprano. In 1909, she went abroad to prepare to sing in grand opera. Her brother, Claude, joined her in Italy where he became a foreign representative for Standard Oil Company. In 1911, Meta made her debut at the San Carlo opera house in Naples where she became the prima donna. When she returned to LeRoy in 1912, she gave a concert at the Methodist church which was filled to capacity and overflowed into the Sunday school rooms. Others had to sit on the lawn outside. Claude accompanied her on the piano. It was said he was as musically talented as his sister. Later that week, Meta gave a concert in the Town Hall in Wyoming, where once again the auditorium overflowed and 200 people were turned away. In August, Meta and her brother returned to Italy, but when war broke out, they returned to LeRoy and began a tour of the United States, giving concerts in Newport, New York City, Birmingham, Erie, Cleveland, Ann Arbor, Syracuse and Buffalo. Her concert in Buffalo with the Chicago Symphony was reviewed in the Buffalo Express: “Miss Reddish is the LeRoy girl who made a sensational success in opera on the stage of several music centers in Italy, as well as in various cities of South America. She has a voice of rare beauty, a coloratura soprano and this beautiful vocal organ is used with full control of its resources. The war cut short for the time the brilliant European prospects of this young American artist, but there can be no doubt of her ultimate success in her chosen career in the minds of those who have heard her sing.” Meta returned to Europe and lived in England. She married Edward Rayne in October 1919 at All Saints Church in Rockhampton, England. Her husband was the founder and owner of a large shoe manufacturing business in England. Meta retired from her opera career when she married. On June 24, 1932, Meta was presented to the King and Queen of England at the Court of St James. The event was written up in the Buffalo Evening News: “Mrs. Joseph Edward Rayne of London, England, formerly Meta Reddish of LeRoy, grand opera singer, was received at Court by the King and Queen at Buckingham Palace, London, June 24. Mrs. Rayne’s presentation gown was of pale pink satin in Empire style with a train of silver brocade lined with satin. She carried a pink ostrich fan and her ornaments were diamonds and pearls.” Meta lived in London during World War II and wrote a letter to her friends in LeRoy on July 26, 1944: “So much is happening over here. About a month ago the Germans launched their pilotless planes on London. They fly some 200 feet up... So many people have left London it seems empty. Major Rayne has to be here for business reasons, so I feel that the least I can do is to stand by. Five years of war begins to feel like a very long time, and we are becoming very weary. Several years ago, your friend Lt. Graney was in London for a few hours and called to see us. I was so sorry not to see more of him. I wonder where he is now... Londoners are so wonderful. I am so proud to be one of them. A few days ago, a bomb went off very near Park Lane. A man was washing the windows at a big hotel next door to us after the bomb went off crowds rushed to the street to see the damage, but the window cleaner carried on his work and never turned a hair... We are having a very cold summer with little sunshine but we manage to keep well and happy. Claude is loving Miami, Florida. The war is going so well, it may not be long now, before we meet.” Meta had two children. Her daughter Joan was presented at Court and the Raynes socialized with a variety of noteworthy people: “Next Monday, July 18th, we are invited to the Royal Garden Party. On Tuesday, American Ambassador Joseph Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy are giving tea dansante at the Embassy for their children. The two eldest sons have just arrived from college in America. Joan is looking forward to that party with delight.” Meta also wrote of friends from LeRoy: “Claude had such a great time with Ruth Keeney and Mary Samson when they were in Genoa... We hope to see Barbara Woodward and her friends but we are leaving for France for a three week motor trip.” Meta’s son, Edward, was managing director of his father’s shoe business. He fitted shoes for the Royal family, including the Queen Mother and the two Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret. He said that Princess Margaret had a very small foot and wore an English size four “and likes the highest heels.” Meta died in London in 1952. A few years ago, Gregory Reinhart who grew up in Pavilion and who also gained success as an opera singer in Europe and South America, contacted me about Meta Reddish. I shared as much information as I had with him, and he discovered that Meta had been recorded and that a record existed and was owned by a collector in Japan. Gregory bought the record and had it shipped to his home in Paris. There is a remote possibility that someday we will be able to hear Meta’s voice again. Another Famous Woman From LeRoy
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