Rubinstein-Wieniawski-Thomas Concert Combination

“Positively last and farewell matinee.” 

“A very fine matinée concert, given by Messrs. Rubinstein and Wieniawski and Mr. Thomas’ orchestra, delighted a large audience at Steinway Hall, yesterday afternoon. Mr. Rubinstein recited, with rare expressiveness and clearness, Schumann’s exquisite concerto in A minor; Mr. Wieniawski contributed the first movement of Mendelssohn’s well-known violin concerto, and had to add to his task a delivery of Vieuxtemps’ ‘Air Varié;’ and the band discoursed, with its wonted precision and effect, a number of familiar pieces.” 

“A matinée at Steinway Hall on Saturday gave the Rubinstein, Wieniawski and Theodore Thomas combination another chance of making their ‘positively final farewell appearance.’ Their last appearance, we believe, is to be made somewhat later. What comes after that we are not informed. Rubinstein gave a magnificent rendering of Schumann’s superb A minor concerto, and afterward a group of little pieces—a new Melodie and an Impromptu of his own, one of Chopin’s most exquisite Ballades, two charming pieces by Henselt—‘Chant d’Amour’ and ‘Si Oiseau j’etais.’—and more that was not on the bills. He was in one of his delightful moods, when music seems to flow from his hands in a clear, sparkling, and abundant stream. He was never more poetical, more tender, more sympathetic, and we have rarely known him more brilliant. Mr. Wieniawski played the first movement of Mendelssohn’s violin concerto. The orchestra gave [see above] and a beautiful performance of Schubert’s ‘Cavalry March’ instrumented by Liszt.”