Jullien Gala Concert

Tuesdays and Fridays, beginning May 26; sacred music on Sundays.

Includes programme and description of Jullien’s Grand Military Fantasia.

“The promised Jullien concerts at the Terrace Park Garden were commenced last evening, under the most auspicious circumstances. The weather was favorable, the audience large, the music good. Reasonable expectations could not, therefore, have been disappointed. The name of the projector of these entertainments—praeclarum et venerabile nomen—may, it is true, have raised hopes of the enkindling of a furor fit to parallel that awakened in earlier years by the present M. Jullien’s father. That yesterday’s performances, while affording ample satisfaction, did not work up the hearers quite to the old pitch of excitement, is not, however, cause for wonderment. Precise and finished orchestral recitals have in late years become more and more frequent, and the steady exposition each season of the most elaborate compositions has lessened to a great extent the influence of purely ‘taking’ productions. With these facts in view, we think we compliment M. Jullien warmly when we declare him a musician of refinement and culture, whose command of his forces, already apparent, will be still increased by that acquaintance with their resources—and with the local also, in which they are deployed—which time only can give him. His first night’s programme was cleverly composed, and was interpreted with an even correctness to which no exception would be taken. It included Mozart’s symphony of ‘Jupiter,’ Strauss’ Morgenblaetter,’ waltz, the overture to ‘Tannhaueser,’ Jullien’s ‘Grand Military Fantasia,’ the scherzo from Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony and the ‘Coronation March’ from ‘Il Profeto.’ It also embraced vocal solos by Miss Minnie Kuhn, Mr. Arthur Matthison and Signor Filippi, and two instrumental contributions for soloists, by M. Castnegier, the oboist whose easily-appreciable talent we called immediate attention to a fortnight ago, and by Mr. Harvey, a capital performer on the trombone. We have indicated above the general impression of the whole concert as one of fair and equal depth. The effect of the ‘Grand Military Fantasia,’ with its happy combinations of sounds from visible and invisible executants, and its less prominent but very felicitous bits of writing standing out from the mass of conventionalities, was especially inspiriting. The original conductor of the affair, as well as its organizer, was, of course, M. Louis George Jullien. He was supplied with as efficient aid as could be desired by Herr Adolph Neuendorff.”

“It is now some fifteen years since the renowned Jullien appeared in this city at the Crystal Palace with his equally renowned orchestra. Friday night his son, Louis George Jullien, inaugurated a season of concerts at the Terrace Garden. There was a large audience present, and the garden shone out gayly in the light of many gas jets. The orchestra was a well-selected and well-drilled one, and the programme was of special interest. The following orchestral works will give an idea of it [see above]. All of these works were remarkably well performed by the orchestra, and M. Jullien proved that he has inherited a considerable share of his father’s genius. The high reputation which he has brought from London was fully borne out by his treatment of each work and the spirit which only a good conductor can infuse into those subordinate to his baton. The soloists were Miss Minnie Kuhn, who sang a German lied very commendably; Mr. Arthur Mathison, who gave ‘My Pretty Jane’ all the effect that might be expected from a thorough artist; Signor Filippi, the Italian opera tenor; M. Castegnier, the best oboe player that probably has ever visited this country, and Mr. Harvey, trombone. M. Jullien was assisted by Adolph Neuendorf in the duties of a conductor. A military band, assisted in giving effect to Jullien’s ‘Grand Military Quadrille.’”

“Mr. Jullien inaugurated a very pleasant series of concerts last Friday evening at the Terrace Garden. He has a good orchestra, and has surrounded himself with several very capable solo artists. Mr. Jullien will aim to give light, agreeable, and entertaining concerts, and, with the talent that he himself possesses and the able assistance that he has, will doubtless succeed.”