Dicterow’s Service

I enjoyed reading your recent profile of violinist Harold Dicterow, his family and his many years of service to the Los Angeles Philharmonic (“47 Years of Playing 2nd Fiddle,” Dec. 28). As past concertmaster of the L.A. Doctors Symphony Orchestra--to whose charitable activities the Dicterow family has contributed artistic services--I’ve long felt that such articles have been overdue, since Los Angeles boasts one of the richest concentrations of fine musicians in the United States.

It is the musician-artist such as Harold Dicterow who provides the muscle and esprit de corps of every musical organization. Nobody said it better than Leopold Mozart, who wrote to his son during rehearsals of “Idomeneo” (Dec. 25, 1780):

“For I know your style of composition--it requires unusually close attention from the players of every type of instrument; and to keep the whole orchestra at such a pitch of industry and alertness for a least three hours is no joke.”

BENJAMIN SIMKIN

Pacific Palisades