The herald., 1898-04-06
MUSIC NOTES


The Los Angeles Symphony orchestra
gave its fifth concert at Music hall yester-
day afternoon, and 1t proved by long odds
the most successful of the series. The
program was excellently chosen, well bal
anced, and not too long. There was a
large audience, whose attentive interest
was demonstrated by unusually discrimi-
native applause.
The strong and weak places In the or
chestra must now be palpable to the ordi-
nary observer. but 1t must be q question Of
time. energy. talent and expense before the
latter can be eradicated or remedied. The
present policy OF the management, to
give good music, the best when possible
with q nominal admission feels entirely
prudent and commendable. Musical taste,
1t must be admitted, had sunk to de-
plorably low ebb In this city when Mr..
Harley Hamilton and his colleagues
started in to redeem a reputation and
make a name. Whether such a policy as
the present can be permanently sustained
is a question. There are certainly some
dozens, II not scores, OF music-lovers here
who would be willing to subscribe fairly
handsome sum for a season of such con-
certs as have already been enjoyed at the
udAuS "a IhC oyApAOuy OAShSoti d A6dAAp
there are others who would prefer to pay
an advanced price for reserved seat The
wisdom Of the present policy, however.
will not be questioned, but one cannot help
feeling that such an organization should
not be hampered by financial straits, but
rather should be assured Of generous
endowment.
The piece de resistance yesterday was
|Beethoven's immortal &c Minor Sym
phony," a work Incompatible in It's splen-
did scope of expression, and Of impelling
grandeur. 1t was not to be expected that
an orchestra Of limited means, Of so few
instruments, and some few of them I'M
worthy, could do entire justice to this
work. The magnificent climax was some
what missed, but an adequate interpreta-
ton Of that triumph demands supreme
force. On the whole, very fair idea Of
the sublime beauty Of the composition was
given.
The program opened with Gounod's
March de Cortege," a relic of 1.-THE
Queen of Sheba." The predominance of
the brass, which Is the least satisfactory
point Of the orchestra. somewhat de-
tracted from the effect Of the number, but
1t was rendered with a clear and crisp pre-
cision that spoke well for the conductors
command and training OF his forces. The
overture to Nicolai's Merry Wives Of
Windsor" followed, and its bright interpre-
tation won we'll merited applause. Two Of
Rubinstein's lightest works, "Pecheur Ma
politain" and '"Toreador ct Andalouse,"
were next given. The latter was es-
pecially we'll done, and was redemanded
The final number Of the orchestra was
Webers "Jubel Overture at the finale
Of which the audience, chiefly composed of
the gentler sex, seemed anxious to forget
Itself and indulge In an enthusiastic dis
play of patriotism. for 1t closes with the
theme to which the national song, Amer
ica," has been set.
The Queen Vocal quartet supplied u
pleasant diversion In the middle of the
program. The voices Of the quartet, which
consists OF Mrs Gertrude Auld-Thomas,
Miss Edith Preston, Mrs. T. E. Rowan IT.,
and Mrs. Isabel Wyatt, blend deliciously,
but they were not heard to the best adj
vantage yesterday With the conductor
between the vocalists and the accompani-
ment. the backs Of the former turned upon
each other, 1t requires consummate skill
and experience to make the result entirely
satisfactory. The attacks Of the vocal
lists and the orchestra were not always
simultaneous. Nevertheless, the charm
Of the ladies' singing could not be gain
said. and their selection, Howard Talbot's
Spinning Song" was received with gen.
erous appreciation. In response to an en-
core. the quartet gave an effective little
lullaby. rather per1lous task, for 1t was
sung without accompaniment, and one was
kept somewhat on the anxious seat for
lapse Of tone.
Altogether. the management may well
feel proud of its last effort. The orchestra
amply demonstrated that 1t is making SUBJ
stantial progress; many of the hitherto
rough places were smoothed away. and
the general effect of every number was
distinctly more satisfactory than at any
previous concert.