Thomas Popular Garden Concert: 53rd: Theodore Thomas Benefit

“Theodore Thomas’ grand benefit concert comes off this evening at the Central Park Garden. The fine orchestra will be increased on the occasion and an excellent programme will be performed.”

“All who appreciate good music and honest work, and who can arrange to visit the Central Park Garden this evening, should remember that by so doing they benefit Mr. Theodore Thomas, the occasion being expressly set apart for his profit and honor. The grand orchestra is to be enlarged, and the programme of music is uncommonly fine, embracing the following selections: [lists program]…Mr. Thomas richly merits the compliment of an overflowing attendance this evening, and we sincerely hope he will be greeted with nothing less.”

“Mr. Theodore Thomas is to have a benefit this evening at the Central Park Garden. Of course there will be a large attendance—there always is at that pleasant resort—and, of course, there will also be an admirable performance. Mr. Thomas places on the programme for this occasion a higher kind of music than he provides for ordinary nights, including some of the most popular of his selections and some things that are new. [Lists program.]

“To listen to such music as this, played by such an orchestra as Thomas’s, amid the gas-lit bowers of Mr. Koch’s make-believe Elysium, while one is soothed by the cooling ice-cream, inspired by the invigorating soda-water, stirred with the exhilarating pop, and mollified with virtuous gin-and-milk, is about the only form of amusement left us in this weather.”

“The popular conductor, Theodore Thomas, has for the past year or two been so busily engaged in the management of his own orchestra that he has not been seen lately in miscellaneous concerts. His tour last winter, however, gave him quite a national reputation; and the frequenters of the Central Park Garden this and last season know that he is always to be found at his post. This constant devotion to one band of instrumentalists has resulted in the best trained orchestra ever heard in this country. Whoever goes to Central Park Garden is certain of hearing as good instrumental music as any foreign capital affords.

“To-night Theodore Thomas takes a benefit. The programme is admirable. [Lists program.] Such a programme could not be improved, and the lovers of good music will not lose the rare opportunity of enjoying it.”

“Mr. Theodore Thomas’s benefit concert on Thursday evening nearly filled the Central Park Garden and Hall with people, though the prices were doubled for the occasion. The selections were of a higher class than those chosen for popular nights [lists some of the program]. Mr. Thomas is a great pubic benefactor, and we are glad to see that the public gives him a cordial recognition. We should not omit to say that the audience at the Garden this year are of much more distinguished character than they have ever been before.”