LET THE STRINGS SING MUSICAL DISPLAY IS THERE FOR PLAY.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Listening on Sunday afternoon to the exquisite violins, violas and cellos crafted in Italy's regaled Cremona region - home to some of history's most cherished string instruments - is one thing.

Picking up a bow and trying your hand, as guests were welcome to do at the Tomas Metzler Violin Shop in Glendale, is another.

William Acker, an engineer from Ventura and year-long student of the violin, greeted the opportunity warily.

``I kind of feel intimidated because those are like $8,000 to $20,000 violins,'' said Acker, who takes lessons at the Metzler shop. ``Sort of like going into a Rolls-Royce dealership when you're not going to buy one.''

More than 100 musicians and music-lovers crowded into the Glendale shop and adjacent library Sunday afternoon for the final week of an exhibition and sale of modern-day instruments from the land of the Stradivari.

For the sixth straight year, the family-run shop has opened its doors for a tonal demonstration of some 50 violins and cellos, each played from the same piece of music.

Santa Susana High School freshman Lindsay Hennes, who's been playing a school-issue cello for the past three years, definitely liked what she heard, despite the out-of-reach price tags starting at $20,000.

``The ones that have full sounds are some of my favorites - because some are thin sounding - and the ones that project,'' said the 14-year-old, who came with her mom, Valerie. ``I'm hopeful that sooner or later I'll be able to get a cello of my own.''

After the Metzler shop started hosting the annual event, interest grew and the instruments now travel on to other shops across the nation.

``To actually have instruments compared one to the other is totally unique in a public forum,'' said Barbara Don, who runs the shop with her husband, Metzler, and had help Sunday from their two daughters. ``Somebody doesn't even necessarily have to be a musician to be sensitive to different sounds.''

For those wooed by the $1 million cellos from Cremona's historic past, the modern pieces being crafted from the area could offer a realistic alternative, Don said.

``The place is steeped in that history,'' she said. ``So there's definitely some romance to it.''

Visitors crowded the shop's grounds as demonstrations lasted hours into the afternoon and browsers took up the offer to try the instruments.

Ling Yan's family has a history of cello players, and she tried all eight of those being exhibited and offered for sale on Sunday.

``Italian instruments - somehow the worksmanship, the craftsmanship, that's what makes it a little different,'' said Yan, who teaches music and also plays professionally. ``Some cellos you try hard, it won't speak very well.''

Others came for the ambience.

Susan Hoffmann, who said she plays the violin with varying degrees of success, enjoyed the chance to hear such treasures.

``I just came to listen,'' the South Pasadena resident said. ``I like the different sounds in the instruments. To me, that's phenomenal - the variations are so tremendous.''

Herman Markosian, a freelance musician who teaches lessons at the shop and performed the tonal comparison of about a dozen violas for those gathered, said playing a fine instrument can make all the difference.

``The instrument - when you play, you don't have to work so hard, it just gives you the sound,'' said the musician, who has played viola since he was a child. ``You put the bow on the string and the music just flies.''

Don says the annual event draws a range of visitors to the shop.

``The thing they really have in common is this love of the instruments. Just somebody who has a dream.''

The annual exhibit and sale continues through Jan. 31. For information, call [phone] or go to www.metzlerviolins.com.

Lisa Mascaro, [phone]

lisa.mascaro(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Ginger Murphy plays an Italian cello Sunday at the Tomas Metzler Violin Shop in Glendale.

(2) Leah Metzler, 16, listens to Ginger Murphy playing cello at the violin shop. The shop opens its doors each year for the tonal demonstration.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer