The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-04-25

AS an evidence of the elegance o
the musical culture aud taste of on
people, the conce, given Friday nigh
by Mrs. John A. Francis, for the bene
tit Of the Episcopal church at Law
renee, was most gratifying. The pro
gramme in point of selection was ~
admirable one, and embraced choice
mOrcCdlLc from the best composers
The audience was comp aratively small
and 10y no means such an one rs the
merit of the entertainment should
have commanded; for there is but lit.
tie encouragement in providing SC
rich and artistic treat for the few,
when the many should enjoy it also.
The public is VIGOROUSLY capricious,
and the small size of an audience is no
evidence of any lack Of reputation or
skill on the part of those appearing,
but il does reflect very seriously upoo
the taste and cultivation of our peo-
pie that Il first class musical effort
should have been so poorly patronized.
The effect will be, not only to discour-
age, If not disgust those who are striv-
ing to elevate the standard of musical
taste here, but deter artists from VEN
turing, here until there is u more sub
stantial proof of our capacity to APP
preciate good music and our willing
ness to show it.
The lovers of music had been quite
on the qH rice in regard TO this con-
cert ana had been looking forward to
it with the anticipation of rare en-
joyment. 1t is sufficient to say that
their most sanguine hopes were fully
realized.
The concert began with Gottschalk's
eXquistely sad and tender little mu-
steal poem, "The Last Hope" The
gifted composer was friend of the
writer, who witnessed many of his
triumphs and was familiar with much
of the artist life of that gifted son Of
the south land, and has often heard
him play with wonderful delicacy
and passion, tropical languor and
tenderness, "The Last Hope" Mr.
Francis has caught much of the COM
poser's idea and rendered the piece
with commendable pathos and finish.
In the "Grand Scherzo opus 81 of
Chopin which lie subsequently
played, Mr.. Francis manifested in
marked degree his ability to cope
with the more serious intricacies,
weird harmOnies and mastery modu-
lations of Chopin, the Keats of music.
With continued study and application,
and rigid avoidance of musical trash
and perSifage, aud strict adherence
to the must; of the great masters, Mr..
Francis has an enviable career before
hi;n as pianist.
Of course the attraction Of the even
ing was the singing of Mrs. Francis,
the accomplished mother of the young
pianist, whose skill and touch We have
often had occasion to praise. Mrs.
Francis has had the rare advantages of
the instruction of some of the best
European masters. She possesses
soprano voice of great tlexibility,
which is characterized by great purity,
sweetness and fullness of tone. Her
vocalizatiOn is admirable and her
method highly artistic. Her strongest
points as singer are, the perfect con-
troll of her voice and an extraordinary
degree of feeling. She throws her
whole soul into every note andyet does
not overstep the modesty of nature by
ranting, so to speak. Her singing of
the ballad, "Waiting," was faultless in
an artistic point of view, and showed
a happy faculty in this particular kind
of music, the ballad. 1t was in the
"Miserere" scene from Verdi's "Trova-
torer that Mrs. Francis achieved her
greatest triumph. Whether consid-
cred as lyric or dramatic effort, a
piece of acting or vocal display, 1t
was worthy of q place on the stage
with the successes of some of the most
nrirna donuaa of fhp dav We