Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14
GERTRUDE SAN soUcI

visit the following rhapsodie from a
Philadelphia paper is of interest:
Although Mishca Elman has appeared
twice in Philadelphia with the Boston
orchestra and with the Philadelphia
orchestra, playing with the former or
ganization the Tschalkowsky concerto.
and with the latter the Brahms con-
certo, it was not until yesterday after
noon when he appeared before the large
audience in recital at the Philadelphia
opera house, that violin enthusiasts
were given an opportunity to gauge
accurately the astonishing proficiency
of this remarka BILE virtuoso.
No amount of laudatory expression,
10 matter how seemingly extravagant.
could convey true intimation of the
genius displayed by Elman in the inter-
probation of program which was an
adroit mixture of the apparently simple
and the taxingly difficult. There were
only four numbers announced, Sym
phony Espagnole." by Lalo; Handel s
E major "Sonate"; Introduction and
Rondo Capriccioso,' by Saint-Saens-
Wilhelmj arrangement of the Schubert
Ave Maria" and Introduction and
Pota," by Sarasate.
To hear Elman play must be, to vio-
linists. at once the keenest delight and
deepest despair. He sets the standard
reached not by ordinary mortalS, but by
those set aside and endowed in some
especial and unattainable manner.
There was no number on the program
which so strikingly illustrated the in
dividuality of his playing as the Han
del "Sonate." In some respects the
adagio of this beautiful old work was
the gem of the afternoon. In it Elman
displayed that wonderful deep, ringing
legato which is so marvellous that 1t
seems almost the result of some super
human agency. The old masters, with
oil oil
style, are usually approached in spirit
of stiffness and classicism-an exagger-
ated effects to conform to some imag-
mary tradition" With Elman there is
none of this. He pays to Handel the
respect due his genius. but plays his
music with a spontaneous youthfulness
and spirit that prove Handel was a
human being, not a machine.
There were two encores added to the
program as an acknowledgment of the
appreciation with which the artist was
greeted-the Prize Song" from "Die
Meistersinger," and "Gavotte," by
Gossee.
Rome, the Eternal CITY," will be the
subject of the Baumgardt lecture in
Symphony hall tonight. Each Sunday
these lectures are growing in popular
ity and with the new lectures that are
promised later in the series a larger
hall will probably be secured.
The last symphony concert of this
season will be given at Temple Audi
torium the afternoon of April 2, and
owing to the length and character OF
the program there will be no soloist.
All the numbers will be from Wag-
ner's operas. making a delightful after
noon for the lovers of this great COM
poser.
Persons interested in the progress of
the First Congregational orchestra an
ticipate with interest the announce
ment of the program for the three an
nual concerts given by this organiza-
ton under the direction of it's founder
and director, William H. Head.
For the next concert, to be given the
evening of March %, an all overture
program is promised, varied by two
appearances of Miss Bessie Bulpin, So
prano. The overtures, selected from
standard works, will be typical of some
era of musical development or some
particular style of composition.
The orchestra, numbering forty-f1ve
will be augmented by the addition OF
former members and other friends for
this occasion to a total of about sew
enty, the additions being mainly in the
strings.
This will be the thirty-third popular
concert given by the orchestra during
its fourteen years of continuous work
s.
The young ladies' auxiliary of I'M
manuel church will present the post
poned concert program Friday night in
the church auditorium. The choir, un-
der the direction of Mrs. Edmund s.
Shank, will be assisted by Alfred A,
Butler one of the department heads OF
Pomona college, who will act as accom-
panist and soloist. The program is be-
ing made up entirely from the works OF
American composers and will include
a cantata, entitled "Flora's Holiday"