Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-10
ADJUSTMENTS.

GRAND OPERA HoUsH. - The lack of
an established orchestral organization
has, up to the present time, been the
one thing that, more than any other, has
retarded the development of musical
art in Los Angeles. This city is full of
mueicisns and music lovers; concerts
innumerRble have been given, and many
ambitious attempts at operatic produc-
tions have been recorded, but no or
chestra capable of handling classical
music has been organized until the
present attempt of Mr.. A. ]. Stamm,
whose first Philharmonic concert took
place last night.
Mr.. Stamm's orchestra consists of at
least 40 pieces, and the players are made
up from the best known and most capa-
BILE of local musicians, as may be seen
from the list Of names published in
these columns yesterday. Few men
here could have achieved go much, and
it reflects no email credit upon. the
leader that he has succeeded in gather
ing together and holding 80 strong q
body of players under his baton.
The programme last night, which has
been heretofore published in extenso,
was made up in way calculated to suit
the educated lovers of music, while it
was not so strictly classical as to fail in
pleasing popular taste. For first pro-
gramme of new organization it was
very we'll balanced affair. and its rendi-
tion gave great satisfaction to a densely
crowded house. Everyone who is at all
identified with music seemed to be pres
ent, and the approving verdict of such
an audience must be the performers
best reward.
Without attempting to 60 into details
about every number, it may be stated
broadly that the chief weakness of the
orchestra is in the brasses and reeds,
fact of which the director must be aware
by this time, and will doubtless endeev-
or to remedy the defect at once.
The opening pieces of each part, the
overture to Rossini's La Gazza Ladra,
and the overture to Thomas's Raymond,
appeared to give the greatest satisfac-
tion of the selections performed by
the orchestra alone, if one might
Judge from the amount of applause
bestowed, but the enthusiasm of the
audience spent itself most lavishly upon
the principal and only really classical
number of the evening, the Mendelssohn
piano concerto in G minor, played by
Augustine Berger with orchestral ac-
compartment. This concerto is one of
the two written for pisnoforte by the
great composer and was favorite piece
for his own playing. Its difficulties are
enough to deter any tyro from attempt.
ing it, and the fact that it has never be-
fore been given in Los Angeles with the
required accompaniment lent an added
interest to it's production last night.
Mr.. Stamm showed good Judgment in
obtaining the services of go brilliant
and capable player as Miss Berger to
interpret his masterpiece. requiring as
it does combination OF force and deli
cacy, of finished manual dexterity and
subtle harmonic insight rarely COM
bined in one person, and when found,
distinguishing the great player from
the average professional. The power of
touch possessed by Miss Berger is gift
of nature that has been re.
fined by art until her command
of the instrument is something
wonderful. Her peculiar caressing touch
of the keys seems to bring out their
singing powers in liquid pearlinesE OF
tone that is as rare as it ia delightful to
listen to, while in the forte passages she
exhibited surprising strength, aided
apparently by an arm movement which
is an addition to piano technique that
deserves extensive imitation. Few could
have realized that thes slight, graceful
girl whose every pose and tender
touch seemed symbolic of the
soft strains of delicious harmonies
had the strength in her slender
fingers which this composition de-
mands. At no point was this strength
b5tter shown than when in the climax
to grand crescendo played by the whole
orchestra the piano came in alone with
the chord in d, passage that was
executed with such force and brilliancy
that the entire body of sound was dom
mated by the single instrument and the
presto movement sped along with vol
ume of delightful harmony into the clos
ing allegro, which was rendered in a man
ner that spoke volumes for the Weber
grand as a magnificent instrument,
and for the phenomenal skill of the
gifted player. At the conclusion OF the
piece Miss Berger was recalled three
times, and may be fairly complimented
upon making the sensation Of the even