Jullien Concert

“Grand cosmopolitan concert; sacred and patriotic music; American airs and melodies; German Lieder and national airs; English ballads and songs; Scotch tunes and melodies; patriotic songs of all nations.”

AR: NYT 06/19/71, p. 4 Title: Amusements. The summer gardens

“The Central Park Garden and Terrace Garden are both prospering. The success of the two places is well deserved, and, as we have already said, will be fraught with good results for the cause of music in this country. Mr. Thomas has an admirable orchestra under his control, and every piece of an inexhaustible repertory is recited by his forces with an intelligence, spirit and precision not to be excelled in any part of the world. M. Jullien also has a strong and clever force of musicians, and the introduction of soloists as contributors to the entertainments—on Friday, Miss Hersee and Herr Habelmann sang, and instrumental performances were supplied by Herr Heine, an exceedingly accomplished violinist, and Mme. Heine, pianist—is a feature of his concerts. The single unpleasant incident noticeable at these very seasonable affairs grows out of the occasional unwillingness of a small fraction of the audience to observe the silence a proper appreciation of the music demands. We are sorry to record our experience as implicating ladies rather than their escorts. A very discreditable display of disregard for performers and audience was offered but a few nights ago at the Central Park Garden, and less noticeable breaches of decorum and exhibitions of ignorance constantly occur. The music rendered, its style of execution, and the character of the assemblages ought not to be thus set at nought.”

“Mr. Jullien has introduced several novelties of late at Terrace Garden. Habelmann has been singing in his most melancholy and romantic manner, and little Miss Rose Hersee has warbled among the trees like a very nightingale. There is dancing now and then at the end of the evening, and the crowd seems to be bigger and bigger every night. Lastly, a blind young man and his wife have appeared at the concerts, and have made an unmistakable hit. Mr. Joseph Heine is a violinist of great merit. He plays with great feeling, and at the same time with considerable vigor, while his tone is full and his technique excellent. Keenly as his solo from ‘Il Pirata’ and the ‘Carnival of Venice’ (with a full allowance of eccentric variations), were relished last Friday night, he made the triumph of the evening with nothing but a penny whistle. On his second recall he took from his pocket a common little tin pipe, without keys, and played upon it to the admiration and amazement of the crowd. His wife, Mrs. Ada Heine, is a pianist. Of course the piano is out of place at an al fresco entertainment; but she is evidently a clever performer of the sentimental school.”