Central Park Garden Concert

Includes program.

“The Garden Concerts of Mr. Thomas are as fully attended as ever, and there is an unfailing succession of novelties on the programme. The Kaiser Marsch, after a long and brilliant career, has been laid aside for a while. If there is one piece more than another which ought to [be] called its successor, it is perhaps Liszt’s arrangement of the Rakoczy March, the well-known Polish air which has been so brilliantly treated by Berlioz. Liszt’s transcription is a new one, executed since Berlioz’ death, and while opinions may differ as to the comparative excellence of the two treatments, there can be no question that Liszt’s work is highly effective and likely to be popular. Another novelty which Mr. Thomas has just introduced is a charming suit of Schubert’s German dances, including the well-known Le Desir waltz which is so commonly attributed to Beethoven. A Strauss waltz—the ‘Thousand and One Nights’—is generally relished; and the operatic selections, such as the trio from ‘William Tell,’ the quartette from Rigoletto, the Conjuration and Benediction from ‘The Huguenots’—are always received with enthusiasm. A new ‘Symphonic Tone-Picture’ by Rheinberger, entitled ‘Wallenstein’s Lager,’ seems, after one hearing, rather vague and unsatisfactory, but it well deserves attention. Then we have had of late an arrangement of Schubert’s beautiful song, Die Allmacht, the Pastorale from Bach’s Christmas oratorio, the charming adagietto, scherzo, and march of Raff’s Suite, Op. 101, Beethoven’s Coriolanus overture, and a great variety of lighter and more familiar music. The concerts at the Central Park Garden will be brought to a close about the end of September. During the last fortnight of the season the orchestra will be increased to fifty performers, and that will hereafter be its number permanently.”