Thomas Sunday Concert: 5th

Event Information

Venue(s):
Steinway Hall

Conductor(s):
Theodore Thomas [see also Thomas Orchestra]

Price: $.50; reserved seats extra $.25

Performance Forces:
Instrumental, Vocal

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
13 January 2019

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

27 Dec 1868, 8:00 PM

Program Details

First New York appearance of tragedienne Theresa Sherk, who recited the following poems: “Coeur de Lion” by Macaulay and “The Fate of Virginia” by F. Hemans.

Performers and/or Works Performed

2)
Composer(s): Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
3)
aka Drommebilleder; Drømme Billeder fantasi; Traumbilder potpourri; Traumbilder selections; Traumbilder fantasie; Visions in a Dream; Pictures of dreams; Frambileter; Fraumbileter
Composer(s): Lumbye
4)
aka Souvenir d'Ema
Composer(s): Umlauf
5)
aka Evening song; Abendlied; Abendgesang; Gesange, op. 107. Abendlied
Composer(s): Schumann
6)
aka Allegretto
Composer(s): Mozart
8)
Composer(s): Unknown composer
9)
aka Freischutz overture
Composer(s): Weber
10)
aka Princess Charlotte
Composer(s): Meyerbeer

Citations

1)
Announcement: New-Yorker Musik-Zeitung, 26 December 1868, front page.
2)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 26 December 1868.
3)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 26 December 1868, 7.
4)
Review: New York Herald, 28 December 1868, 5.

“The inauspicious state of the weather doubtless deterred many from being present at Theo. Thomas’ concert last evening, but Steinway Hall was nevertheless comfortably filled. The concert was probably the most agreeable of its four predecessors, for, setting aside the attractions of the fine orchestra, the occasion was rendered unusually interesting by the first appearance in this city of Miss Theresa Sheik [sic], announced as a young tragedienne, who recited ‘Coeur de Léon’ and The Fate of Virginia.’ Miss Sheik [sic] was very favorably received, and the excellent interpretation which she gave those beautiful selections was thoroughly appreciated by the audience. Seppel Geschwander, of the Shoepfer Singing Society, also made his first appearance in Lumbye’s ‘Visions in a Dream.’ The instrument was delightfully played and the audience justly demanded an encore, which was complied with in the rendition of Umlauf’s ‘Souvenir d’ems.’ It was truly charming, full of sweetness and harmony, and not a little suggestive of a harp, flute and violin combined. Mr. Geschwander was cordially applauded and deservedly encored. The selections for the orchestra were executed in excellent style.”

5)
Announcement: New York Post, 28 December 1868, [2].
6)
Review: New-York Times, 28 December 1868, 4.

“Mr. THEODORE THOMAS gave his fifth Sunday concert last evening at this establishment. The weather was not inviting, but the attendance, under the circumstances, was good. The programme was more varied and cheerful than usual, which we regard as a step in the right direction. Mr. THOMAS’ taste is always to be trusted in classical or sensational modern music, but he does not always hit the popular fancy, and without this, success is impossible. Success is often a windy thing, but it is always a trusty henchman. The orchestral pieces last evening were pleasantly contrasted, and were played by Mr. THOMAS’ fine band superbly. It is rarely that the “Freischutz” overture is so clearly and powerfully played. LUMBYE’S well-known piece, “Visions in a Dream,” was given with a soft, slumbrous delicacy which left nothing to be desired. In this work a new zither player, Mr. GESCHWANDNER, made his debut. The zither is an instrument which makes great demands on the compassion of the community. To appreciate its tremulous feebleness one should be very much in love or very much in debt—in a state of great exaltation or of great depression. Most people enjoy the advantage of one of these conditions—usually the latter;—hence the zither is popular. Mr. SEPPEL GESCHWANDNER (he plays on a small instrument, and we will not begrudge him a letter of his name) did not do full justice to the solo in LUMBYE’S “Dream.” He bungled the rhythms, and even did not render the correct notes of the melody. Subsequently, however, he played a long fantasia called “Souvenir d’ Ema” in a brilliant and effective manner. The gentleman appeared in full Tyrolean costume, and was warmly applauded. So also was Miss THERESA SHERK, a young lady from California, who recited two pieces with skill. The lady has a very sonorous voice, and declaims with intelligence. She is of German parentage and training—a fact by no means perceptible in accent, but noticeable in the vocal undulations for which the German school is peculiar. Miss SHERK will, we hear, make her appearance on the stage, and in tragedy we have no doubt she will succeed.”

7)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 28 December 1868, 8.

“Mr. Thomas gave his fifth Sunday concert last night at Steinway Hall, and a very pleasant affair it was.  The selections for the orchestra were all excellent, and all played with taste, spirit, and correctness. We had Mendelssohn’s beautiful overture in ‘Athalia,’ an Abendlied of Schumann’s, the well-known minuet from Mozart’s Symphony in G minor, two numbers from Beethoven’s superb ‘Prometheus’ music, a fantasia on ‘Masaniello,’ the overture to ‘Der Freischutz,’ and the familiar Fackeltanz, No. 3, of Meyerbeer. There was also some interesting playing by Mr. Seppel Geschwandner on that quaint, pretty, and most melodious modification of the lute known as the zither. Mr. Seppel Geschwandner is to all appearances a gorgeous Bavarian. He wears a very fine hat, with a very broad brim, and a little peaked crown, surmounted by a black and white feather. He wears it all the time and as it is cocked very much on one side, with rather a Rembrandtish air, it naturally adds a great deal to the excellence of his music.  Moreover, Mr. Seppel Geschwandner wears a variety of vague but highly colored clothing about the region of the stomach. When he is about to play, he enforces silence by two or three sharp raps on the table with his tuning key. Altogether he is a remarkable object; but, eccentricities aside, he really plays very well indeed, and his instrument is decidedly worth hearing.

“In the course of the evening a young lady named Miss Theresa Sherk gave some readings from Mrs. Hemans and Macaulay.”