San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-15
WHITNEY MOCKRIDGE.
A Concerted Musical COLLATION. Ar
fOrded EsihetIc Epicures.

forded EstheIc Epicnres.
Last night was offered a musical treat
by the above named company to the
music loving people of San Antonio,
which was attended but poorly. But
what was lacking in numbers was made
up by appreciation and applause by those
present.
Every member of the company can
truly be called an artist. To judge and
appreciate them without prejudice they
should be heard in their respective solo
parts.
Mr.. Whitney Mockridge has decidedly
very sympathetic voice. His intoDa-
tion is pure. But the tendency to catch
the ear rather than the heart becomes
apparent when he sings falsetto notes
and strains his voice at the close OF a
sOng, swellS the closing notes from piano
to double forte and prolongs it 10 an
undue length. Ballad singing would be
the true element Of Mr. Mockridge.
Mrs. Mayo Rhodes sang for her debut
IF Thou Lowest Me-" by Denza, which
song by no means does justice 10 the lyric
powers of the lady. Her voice is not very
strong, but admirably trained. When
ever she sings without atfectatiOn she
wins the hearts Of her listeners. Mrs.
Rhodes made quite u hit last year at the
SHngerfest in Galveston. The Lullaby
was Vic lllt'SJ tu ldSb
the beauty of the composition and the eff
feet Mrs. Rhodes produced was greatly
marred by the jingling of the passing
street cars in front of the theatre,
Mr.Arthur BeresfOrd, we may call him
the basso par Observation-Disclosures
the audience by the extraordinary pow
err and mellowneSs Of his voice. The rem
ditiOn of his songs possesses an eXQuiSitely
pure and artistic quality and magnetic
power conveyes his inspirations and feel
ings to his listeners. The remar kable
con pass Of bis voice is but seldom found
In bass voices. He should be careful not To
indulge too much in piano passages, as a
clear information may suffer by IT.
The greatest hit OF the evening, I'M
doubleday Miss Belle Botsford, the solo
yiolinist of the company, made. Her
modest and unaSSuming manner won for
her the hearts Of the audience at her first
appearance. The old prejudice of some
of the ancient masters, that playing the
violin is not suitable for ladies, would
have been quickly overcome had they
seen the charming appearance Cd
Miss Botsford and heard her harmonious
and graceful playing and they would
have received the proof Of what woman
is capable of, so far as technical attain
ments go. But deducting even from that,
Miss BotSford possesses those necessary
artistic qualities, true musical instinct,
refinement and culture. The "Souvenir
de Baden" was played in finished style,
| every note with feeling, expression ana
sympathetic touch. The tone, assisted
| by the excellent quality of her instrument.
was simply beautiful, the phrass-
ing highly artistic. After deal
ening applause and demand for
an encore Miss Botsford gracefully
submitted, playing Moskocosky Serenade.
Her second solo of Sarasate's Spanish
dance was even more enthusiastically
cheered TO which also an encore followed
in the shape Of VieuXtemp's fantastic
transformation OF the "Arkansaw
Traveller" The persistent demand OF
the audience tor an encore. which lasted
fully ten minutes at Miss Botsford's
third solo nun Der, "Gipsy Mazourka,"
was at last declined, after appearing for
the third time to express her thanks.
Miss Botsford's looks belied her action
and it was very plain that some undue
pressure prevented her from giving an
other encore.