Rubinstein-Wieniawski-Thomas Concert Combination

Includes program.

“If the second of the present series of concerts by the combined Rubinstein and Thomas companies was less interesting than the first, it was nevertheless a remarkable entertainment, and deserves to rank among the memorable concerts of the season, as the performers were in a highly sympathetic and inspiriting mood. The character of Rubinstein’s playing, as we all know, is governed not a little by the temper of the moment. Last night, still flushed it may be with the excitement of his triumph of the night before, he was in one of his most glorious veins. His interpretation of Beethoven’s great E flat concerto, perhaps the greatest and most beautiful concerto ever written, was like a new revelation, even to those of us who boasted of some familiarity with that oft-played work. If we were asked to name the most conspicuous merit of his performance, we should say it was an extraordinary and surprising clearness. His conception of the concerto was delightfully distinct, and he expressed it with resolution and directness. The first movement was both refined, poetic, and brilliant; the exquisite adagio was one of the most delicious things imaginable—music that touched the heart and lifted up the mind; and the finale gave an opportunity for the display of the more superb and forcible manifestations of the performer’s genius. In this one work indeed were illustrated all Rubinstein’s most characteristic excellences as a player. The signal success of the performance was attributable partly to the excellence of the orchestra, which under Mr. Thomas’s direction gave a refined, correct, spirited and sympathetic accompaniment such as it is seldom the good fortune of a pianist to enjoy. Later in the evening Mr. Rubinstein played with exquisite grace a group of Preludes and Etudes by Chopin, and for a recall Liszt’s transcription of one of the Soirées musicales of Rossini (Mira la bianca luna).

Mr. Wieniawski was likewise in an especially musical mood last night. He played Spohr’s ‘Gesang scene’ concerto, a good example of the composer’s school, rather tame and over refined for the taste of the present day, but melodious, highly polished, and full of sentiment. It calls for a very tender expression, a pure, luscious tone, and a cantabile style, and in all these Wieniawski, when he chooses to be so, is admirable. The orchestra gave the overture to ‘Genoveva,’ and so fine a performance of Liszt’s ‘Les Preludes’—one of the most truly poetical of all the symphonic poems—that Mr. Thomas was loudly recalled after it.”

“The second of these highly interesting entertainments took place at Steinway Hall last evening. The most important number of the bill was Beethoven’s concerto No. 5, the three movements of which Mr. Rubinstein recited with his usual eloquence; while Mr. Wieniawski’s admirable delivery of the very fine ‘Gesangs Scene,’ by Spohr, supplied fresh proofs of the performer’s mastery of the most exacting, as well as the noblest of instruments. Mr. Rubinstein’s rendering of several of Chopin’s preludes and studies was the occasion of his participation in the second half of the entertainment; and, following the pianist, Mr. Wieniawski contributed for his second number his very poetical composition, the ‘Légende.’ The orchestral selections of the night were [see above]. The splendid interpretation of the symphonic poem last named suggested the recall, amid much enthusiasm, of Mr. Thomas.”

Includes program.