Thomas Popular Garden Concert: 1st

Event Information

Venue(s):
Terrace Garden

Proprietor / Lessee:
Philipp Bernet

Conductor(s):
George Matzka

Price: $.25; $10 for season

Event Type:
Orchestral

Performance Forces:
Instrumental

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
22 January 2018

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

10 Jun 1867, 8:00 PM

Program Details

George Matzka is conducting because Theodore Thomas is in Europe.

The citations with programs name the selection from Gounod’s Faust as "Grand selection, no. 2."

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Hamm
3)
Composer(s): Flotow
4)
Composer(s): Gung'l
5)
Composer(s): Donizetti
6)
Composer(s): Donizetti
7)
aka Diebische Elster, Die; Thieving magpie
Composer(s): Rossini
8)
aka Romanza
Composer(s): Meyerbeer
9)
aka Shadow dance; Schattentanz; Shadow song
Composer(s): Meyerbeer
Text Author: Barbier, Carré
10)
Composer(s): Strauss
11)
Composer(s): Gounod
12)
aka König von Yvetot, Der
Composer(s): Adam
13)
Composer(s): Parlow
14)
aka How fair art thou; How beautiful you are
Composer(s): Weidt
15)
Composer(s): Ptáček

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 03 June 1867, 3.

"The success attending the experimental concerts given last summer at Terrace Garden has induced Mr. Theodore Thomas to resume, on a firm basis and larger scale, these refined and extremely popular outdoor entertainments. Accordingly he begs leave to announce that the

POPULAR GARDEN CONCERTS

will commence MONDAY, June 10, and continue nightly with the exception of Saturdays throughout the summer.

Efforts are making [sic] to increase in every possbile way the attractive features of these Soirees. Several new Virtuosi will be introduced early in the season, and many important additions will be made to the already comprehensive repertoire of Mr. THOMAS' efficient Orchestra.

The programme will present the most interesting novelties of the day, and at the same time will include a pleasing variety of selections from the compositions of the great masters.

The Garden will be conducted upon the most liberal principles, which, it is hoped, will commend it to the distinguished society frequenting its Arbors, Refreshment Pavilions and the adjoining hotel.

SEASON TICKETS

admitting to all the Concerts during the entire season, of at least three months,

TEN DOLLARS EACH."

2)
Announcement: New York Post, 03 June 1867.

Identical to advertisement in the New York Times on the same day.

"One of the pleasantest features of our city life last summer was due to the enterprise of Mr. Theodore Thomas, who undertook the experiment of giving a series of popular out-of-door concerts at Terrace Garden. During the utmost severities of the heated term thousands enjoyed, at this place of resort, the most entire comfort, the pleasure of delightful social intercourse, a most excellent musical entertainment, ad a fully supply for the demands of the most fastidious connoisseurs in the eatables and drinkables. The fact that these concerts were so uniformly and handsomely sustained for over one hundred nights demonstrated that the experiment was a complete success, and encourages Mr. Thomas this year to promise a similar series of concerts, at the same place, beginning on Monday evening next.

In addition to the musicians employed by Mr. Thomas last season, there are to be some new soloists from Europe, of whose skill we have very favorable reports. All of the arrangements for the coming season will be on the most liberal scale, while the continuance of Mr. Goesche as manager ensures the same high order of entertainments."

3)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 03 June 1867, 7.

Identical to announcement in the Post on the same day.

"One of the pleasantest features of our city life last summer was due to the enterprise of Mr. Theodore Thomas, who undertook the experiment of giving a series of popular out-of-door concerts at Terrace Garden. During the utmost severities of the heated term thousands enjoyed, at this place of resort, the most entire comfort, the pleasure of delightful social intercourse, a most excellent musical entertainment, ad a fully supply for the demands of the most fastidious connoisseurs in the eatables and drinkables. The fact that these concerts were so uniformly and handsomely sustained for over one hundred nights demonstrated that the experiment was a complete success, and encourages Mr. Thomas this year to promise a similar series of concerts, at the same place, beginning on Monday evening next.

In addition to the musicians employed by Mr. Thomas last season, there are to be some new soloists from Europe, of whose skill we have very favorable reports. All of the arrangements for the coming season will be on the most liberal scale, while the continuance of Mr. Goesche as manager ensures the same high order of entertainments."

4)
Announcement: New-York Daily Tribune, 03 June 1867, Music.

“Summer in the city brings a wistful reminiscence of Mr. Thomas’s noctes ambrosiana last year. We are glad that these nights are to be renewed—it was so good to see an orchestra almost among the laurels, to listen to embowered melody, to hear symphonies cool as so many woodland zephyrs. Under these umbrageous circumstances it was also pleasant to the innocence of the German mind to float itself in beer. 'Because you are virtuous, shall there be no cakes and no ale?' So Thomas waved his baton, and sinners were refreshed. We know how such an intelligent orchestra as his can respond to all manner of pleasant circumstances--a Summer garden, for instance, in the month of June--and we know what an evangeliser this music is in dog-day nights. Suffice it that the second season of Popular Garden Concerts will begin on the 10th of June, at Bernet's Terrace Garden, on Thrid-ave., between Fifty-eighth and Fifty-ninth sts. Of the place, it need only be said that it is fit to entertain the music. While Mr. Thomas is for a time absent, the orchestra will be under the efficient lead of George Matzka, a good conductor and a fine violinist, to whom we bid welcome again."

5)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 03 June 1867.
6)
Announcement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 03 June 1867, 8.

This concert series will exceed the success of the last, because new virtuosos were hired, and the venue was improved and beautified.

7)
Announcement: New York Post, 06 June 1867.

"The sudden and irresistible onset of hot weather reminds us of the delightful entertainments in store for us next week, when we can enjoy in comfort the splendid out-of-door concerts to be given at Terrace Garden. The brilliant success of these concerts last season established them as a permanent feature of our city life during the heated term. With such alleviations as they afford to the discomforts of the 'can't-get-away' workers, we can manage to enjoy ourselves much more cheaply and quite as satisfactorily as the crowded denizens of the watering places."

8)
Announcement: New York Post, 08 June 1867.

"The hot weather which has prevailed all this week until the welcome change of temperature to-day has reminded many of the delightful Terrace Garden concerts, which were such a consolation during the whole of last summer. They begin again on Monday evening next."

9)
Announcement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 08 June 1867.
10)
Announcement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 09 June 1867, 4.
11)
Announcement: New York Post, 10 June 1867.

"To-night the first of the Terrace Garden concerts will be given at the pleasant resort of that name, on the corner of Third avenue and Fifty-ninth street. Last year over one hundred of these concerts were given, and were largely attended by as fine a class of people as we have ever met at any of our concert rooms. We have no doubt that the season this year will be equally long and successful."

12)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 10 June 1867, 7.
13)
Advertisement: New-York Daily Tribune, 10 June 1867, 7.

No program given.

14)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 10 June 1867, 6.

No program given.

15)
Review: New York Post, 11 June 1867, 2.

“The cool weather last evening was unfavorable to a very large gathering at Terrace Garden, where the first of Mr. Thomas’s out-of-door concerts was given. A respectable number were present, however, and enjoyed the excellent music immensely. That our readers may know the nature of the entertainment we give the programme performed, as follows: [Lists program.]

The culinary arrangements, which were so much admired last year, are as well conducted as ever, under the direction of Mr. Bernet, while the gardens are in excellent order. Concerts will be given every night except Saturday. A spacious concert hall will accommodate a large audience in case of unpleasant weather."

16)
Review: New-York Times, 11 June 1867, 5.

“The opening concert was given last night, and was appreciably attended. The select, and at the same time eminently social character of the audience was observable as in the past, and gave to the assemblage rather the appearance of a clustering of friendly grapes than the formal nature of friendly gatherings. The programme last night, an exceedingly happy one, was equally divided between operatic, dance and song music. It was given by Mr. Theodore Thomas’ Grand Orchestra, and under the direction of Mr. Matzka, who will conduct the concerts during Mr. Thomas’ absence in Europe. These entertainments, which are to be enjoyed under umbrageous foliage, amid healthy breezes, and within reach of most palatable refections [sic], are to be continued every evening during the Summer, save on Saturdays. Friday evening, as heretofore, will be devoted to the classical in music, and on Sunday evenings there will be a sacred concert.”  

17)
Review: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 11 June 1867, 8.

The concert was well attended despite all the other festivities on this day and the cool temperatures outside. From now on this will be a daily event. On Fridays the second part will always be classical music. The performance of the concert last night was satisfactory.

18)
Review: New York Musical Gazette, July 1867, 69.

“We wish to call attention to all who visit the city during the summer to the ‘Terrace Garden Concerts,’ on Third avenue, between 58th and 59th streets. They are on the plan of the ‘Garden Concerts’ that have so long been a feature in the music of German cities. For 25 cents you are admitted to a cool and inviting garden, with seats conveniently arranged, where you can listen throughout the evening to a variety of music, as rendered by Theo. Thomas’ orchestra. The objection that some might feel, on the score of its being a ‘Lager Bier Garden,’ is really not a strong one in this case. It is true that lager bier, weiss bier, and other bibulous refreshments are dispensed to those who desire them, but these concerts (which are held every night during the week) are largely attended by a most respectable class, whose sole object is to hear good music, and there is nothing either in the surroundings or in the conduct of the crowds that are present, to which the most fastidious could object.”

19)
Review: New York Musical Gazette, August 1867, 77.

“Our article on music in the city will have to be brief this month, unless we talk for the mere sake of talking, which is not the Gazette’s way of doing things.  But when both artists and audiences have scattered themselves abroad over the face of the earth, what can we do but let them go?  Fortunately we have still the Central Park on Saturday afternoons, and still better, the Terrace Garden Concerts every evening.  Theo. Thomas has returned from his European trip (during which a correspondent of the New York Times says he swallowed the musical world at a mouthful) refreshed and re-charged and, if possible, more vigorous than ever.”