The herald., 1898-03-16
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MUSIC NOTES
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The work Of the Los Angeles Symphony
| orchestra continues to meet with very
gratifying appreciation; indeed, the audi
ence at the fifth concert yesterday after
noon, in point of both numbers and enthu-
| siasm, was all that could be desired The
program was perhaps a little top-heavy
for popular taste, the two big numbers
coming together while it certainly proved
too iong-of over two hours duration. Ye,
there were some irrepressible people who
are such slaves TO the encore habit that
| they were inconsiderate enough to ask Mr.
Wilde to return to the piano after his
thoroughly exhausting effort in Rubin
| STEMS concerto
The weakest part of the orchestra Is un
doubtediy it's brass; the cornets are very
fair, though they cannot always supply
the place of trumpets, which are badly
needed; the horns are uneven, though a
very improved tone was produced in the
andante of the Rubinstein Concerto, In
which accompaniment these instruments
have for time quite prominent
part; one trombone is well and the other
is sick. Another assertive flaw In the in
struments was An apparently loose string
in the bass, which was frequently annoy
ing.
The acquisition of Mr. ]. Bond Francisco
to the first violin's desk is a matter for
congratulation. There was already a
marked improvement from the ragged
bowling OF his colleagues, which will be
still greater If the dependence ON the con-
cert master is religiously observed. Mr..
Hamilton conducted with control, vigor
and intelligence. In the "Rubinstein Con-
certo" he paid rather more attention to
conducting his orchestra than to accom-
panying Mr.. Wilde, which once or twice
somewhat disconnected the pianist, who
was further handicapped by not having
the confidence to essay the task without
the score In front of him. Furthermore,
this concerto is a masterpiece, and re-
quires the temperament and touch of a
master. Whatever Mr.. Wilde's ambition,
and whatever his earnest work, he
to please a critical audience with
such an effort. His endeavor his
practice and much of his technique, were
entirely laudable, but his enterprise in this
instance was mistaken, and the manage
ment erred in encouraging it. Mr.. Wilde
Is evidently an earnest worker, but he only
succeeded In maintaining monotonous
tone, barren of relief and expression. The
accompaniment was really more interest
ing than the solo, and developed some ex-
cellent work on the part of the orchestra.
The program opened with the Corona
tion March," from Meyerbeer's prophet" I"
The splendid swing of the music was some-
what missed, and at the finale the drum
came in with belated jog trot about half a
beat behind the conductor. Despite the
recorded criticism that Cherubini's over
ture to Anacreon is Enchanting and
Incompatible" its rendering yesterday
did not reveal these qualities
| The delightful melodies and skilful
Celebrations Haydns Surprise SYM
phony' afforded very pleasant relief af-
ter the labored concerto, and was
fairly interpreted by the orchestra
throughout but the most satisfactory and
faultless number on the program was the
Overture to Wilhelm Tell," doubtless due
to thorough familiarity on the part Of the
orchestra.
| Candid criticism of such an organizatio
as the Symphony orchestra, of which every
music-loving Angeleno is properly proud,
should surely not be the cause Of any Of
tinct educational value, and if a critic, in
humble sort Of way attempts. without
claiming infallibility, to point out defects,
he should not be pounced upon as migrate
or mischievous. The orchestra is COM
posed of earnest professional musicians,
who have broad enough temperaments to
discriminate between fulsome praise and
just judgment.
A very pleasing feature Of the concert
was the appearance of Miss Annie B.
Shepard, who is the soprano of the First
Congregational church. Miss Sheppard s
clear, sympathetic and true voice was
heard to advantage in the great aria from
Mendelssohn's Elijah, "Hear Ye. o
Israeli" Recalled, the soprano gave, in
very pleasing style, Schubert's "Serenade, I"
which was very we'll accompanied by the
full orchestra.
A delightful piano and song recital was
given at the Blanchard Fitzgerald hall last
evening by Mrs Justin Kay Toles and Mr..
and Mrs. T. E. Rowan, jr. Mrs. Toles is
one of our very best pianists, and the good
voices of Mr.. and Mrs. T. E. Rowan, jr.
have for some years been highly valued
s.,
Mr.. and Mrs. Rowan have decided to re-
move to San Diego, and the recital last
night was in the nature of farewell per-
formance. The program was skillfully
conceived. preserving a very attractive
balance. Mr.. Rowan opened with group
of three songs by Smith, Nevin and Tosti,
respectively, and sang in excellent voice,
and with much expression. Mrs. Rowan's
first number was Spohrs "Romanza," but
the latent power Of her clear and sympa-
thetic voice was better developed in her
second selection, Lfszt's king of Thule" /"
Mrs. Toles is gifted with beautiful hands,
and true musical expression to guide them;
she is an ideal accompanist, but her COM
plete domination cf her instrument was
admirably illustrated In selections from
Schumann, Schubert, Schutt and Chopin.
Especially in the latter's ballade op. ~.
Mrs. Toles showed her power Of technique
and expression. Mr.. and Mrs. Rowan's
voices blend together delightfully."-, and