Thomas Popular Garden Concerts: Jules Levy Benefit

Precise date unknown. “Mr. Theo. Thomas has given nearly 160 of his concerts at the Central Park Garden, and these charming entertainments will cease on Tuesday evening.”

“The benefits of Gosche and Levy, at Central Park Garden, take place early this month. The programmes will be specially [sic] interesting on both occasions.”

“Next week there will be at this establishment two benefits—those of Mr. Levy, the cornet player, and Mr. Gosché, the popular business manager; and as both of these gentlemen have troops of friends, the Garden will scarce contain the crowds.”

“The concerts at the Central Park Garden come to an end to-morrow evening, when Levy, the cornet player, takes a benefit.”

“On Tuesday evening next one of the most pleasant and profitable series of musical entertainments ever given in this City will be terminated by a special benefit night. The nightly concerts which have been given at the Central Park Garden have certainly been worthy of such a qualification. They have been excellent in respect of the music performed and of the interpretation, and thoroughly attractive in a popular sense. And they have been appreciated to an extent that would have warranted, we think, a continuance of the entertainments throughout the Winter. From present appearances, however, an intended succession of Winter concerts is likely to be postponed for several months, and we shall have to wait until next year for an after-allowance of enjoyment. Meantime the Central Park Garden may be visted twice. This evening the last performance but one will be offered. To-morrow Mr. Thomas’ orchestra will meet up town for the last time this twelvemonth. Mr. Thomas, to whose qualities as a musician and skill in organization is attributable the formation of an orchestra which includes several most competent soloists, and is especially efficient by reason of the constant ensemble practice of years, has already had an evidence of public regard in the shape of a successful benefit sorièe. And Mr. Gosche, business manager of the place, whose industrious supervision has kept it free from the numerous disadvantages threatening a popular establishment of the kind, has been tendered a like compliment. The final night, we see, has been reserved as the occasion of a testimonial benefit to Mr. J. Levy, the greatest of artistes on the cornet-a-piston. Mr. Levy, we may remark, has been the only soloist during the whole past season, and has been the only one needed. We can recollect no performances that have been more invariably pleasure-giving. A reception of the most cordial character has always been his, and the demand for a repetition of each of his efforts has been quite as regular. His success, of course, is the result of an artistic temperament, of unlimited culture, and of a protracted experience in the capitals of the Old World. It has consequently been substantial as well as spontaneous, and enduring, as we have hinted, to an unprecedented degree. We have no confidence enough in the elasticity of the concert hall where Mr. Levy appears to-morrow evening to assume that it will contain a one-hundreth part of the audiences that have listened to his playing, but we are sure so few of his admirers will overlook the announcement of the affair, that those who lost the opening piece on the bill will have little chance of hearing the remainder.”

Brief.

“Close of the Season at the Central Park Garden.—The successful summer season of the Thomas concerts at the Central Park Garden will close to-night. On this occasion an extraordinary programme is arranged for the benefit of Mr. Levy, the famous cornet-a-piston player. This soloist deserves a crowded hall and a great benefit, as he doubtless will have. He has performed several hundred solos here and has been invariably encored. It is unnecessary to repeat what has often been said before about his exquisite performance and popularity with the public. Mr. Theodore Thomas and his excellent manager and partner, Mr. Gosche, have been well rewarded for their enterprise in establishing this popular place of summer resort. Mr. Thomas, in fact, has produced a revolution in the public taste for the highest order of instrumental music and for summer evening concerts. Mr. Thomas and his Central Park Garden orchestra are about to give concerts in the large cities in different parts of the country, and will commence next week in New England.”

Brief; announces benefit.

“The close of the season at the Central Park Garden to-night will be signalized by a special programme, intended as a complimentary benefit to Mr. Levy, who has been so successful at the Thomas concerts as a cornet soloist. To-night Mr. Levy will play three pieces, and the orchestra will perform a rich variety of selections. It is needless to set forth Mr. Levy’s claims and the public regard, for everybody knows how justly popular he is.”