San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-15
FRANCES NASH RECEPTION.

Certainly one of the most delight
full and brilliant entertainments ever
given in San Antonio was the mus.
cal reception on Friday evening Gin
the home of Maj and Mrs. Charles
{. Cresson. in honor of Frances
Nash, celebrated American pianist
who in private life is the wife OF
Mai. Il. NJ. Watson, Fifteenth Field
'Artillery.
The spacious music room and low
err floor of the beautiful Cresson
home was filled with guests. Most
of the brilliant members of the must
cal. social and army circles Of San
Antonio. delighted to partake of the
Mrs. Cresson's gracious hospitality.
and: to hear Mary Jordan sing and
Frances Nash play.
So much has been said and writ
ten about Frances Nash as the lead
ing young American woman pianist
of today. and of her remarkable vir-
tuosity as a musician that expecta-
ton ran high when a San Antonio
audience was given the initial oppor-
tunity to hear her. 1t is small praise
to say that her playing far surpasses
anything that was anticipated. She
has to very unusual degree the rare
ability TO create atmosphere" and it
was quite evident that while she was
playing nothing existed for her but
the splendid music she was making.
Her tone is vibrast and sonorOus, ana
yet surprisingly subtitle and delicate
and her technical equipment truly re-
markable throughout her entire per-
Torrance. The Interpretation she gave
of the very satisfying and, compre-
hensive programs she played. mark
her. not only as very important
pianist. but as an equally distinguish
ed personality.
Her part of the program consisted
of the beautiful and too-litttle played
List Etude known as ''Un Sospiro"
the favorite Chopin waltz. OPP. GA, No. |
2. and Chopin's brilliant Etude. 0p.
10. No. 3, and the second group, a
"Orientale' by Amani. a |
fluttering and elusive Dance of the |
Elves" by Sapellinkoff. the beautiful |
Iento Triste of Cyril SCOTS, andl
Saint-Saens fascinating ''Etude irI
forme de Valse.D Her encore was the |
intricate "Arabesque" of Letschetii-
sky.
Mary Jordan's singing is always a |
ielight TO San Antonio audiences who |
heard here again Friday evening for
the first time since her memorable |
concert last November and her sue
,esstul winter concert tour. SO beau |
fifua is her voice in its entire com
tralto register and so satisfying Isl
she as singer that every oppo,-
unity TO hear her is eagerly well
comed by her friends in San Antonio,
who include every one with whom she
has come in the slightest contact. She
said herself that she was never in
better voice than she was last night |
md certainly no one could have been
found among her charmed listeners
20 disagree with her. ~
The lovely "Printemps qui COM
nence" from Samson and Dalila"
II Saint-Saens was chosen to open
he program, and interest was added
% her singing of the part By the
arge photograph Of her in her cos
.ume for the part when she sang il
With the Century Opera company, inl
New York. The next number was
he tragic and dramatic Looking
class" by Walter Damrosch. which
S new to her hearers. Brahms
'Wiegeniied" which she sings SO won.
lerfuily was included with Gretchani-
loff's Over the Steppe" with its
,ivid contrast of tone color and req
ster. and the virile and turgid "Ho.j
,ak Song" Of Moussourgsky's in the
second group. Three modern Ameri-
AN songs. 1.-THE Heart of Rose,'H
~ Warren. "Surely the Time for
Making Songs Has Come" and "The
Years at the Spring" of Mrs.
Beach's which closed the program.
were included with TschaikOwsky'
beloved "Ye Who Have Yearned
Alone" in the last group. Mrs. Viii
lam Noble added much to the beau-i
y in 1.-The two last numbers with her
'iolin obligatos. Miss Jordan's en-
,ores were Little Streams of
)uma''. and 81 Passed by Your Win
low. and Loves Old Sweet Song"
IN which she accompanied herself.
Walter Durham was the exceedingly
,apable accompanist, for the rest of
Ter songs.