Central Park Garden Concert

Includes program. 

“The symphony chosen for this week was Gade’s No. 1, in C minor—the same which Mr. Thomas produced at one of the Steinway Hall concerts early in the Winter. It is almost a novelty in New-York, yet it is not easy to understand why it should be so much neglected, for it is not only a work of remarkable merit, but it has all the elements of popularity. It is clear, bright, original, tuneful, and vivacious, and it shows a vigor which Gade’s later works have scarcely equaled. The charming Scherzo, the beautiful melody of the Andantino Grazioso, and the forcible Finale, with a characteristic Danish air introduced at the close, are always keenly relished. On the same programme with this Symphony we had Liszt’s free arrangement of the Schubert March in B minor, the ‘Tristan und Isolde’ selections, a variety of minor pieces, and two novelties: one of these was an excellent Vorspiel to the opera of ‘Roswitha and Domroschen’ by Linder, a composer of the modern school, and the other was Beethoven’s ‘Twelve Minuets,’among which are gems of whose existence this generation is hardly aware.

Since we last wrote of these concerts Mr. Thomas has brought out several important pieces. A Suite of ‘Scènes Pittoresques,’ by Massenet, consists of four spirited and graceful movements, the character of which is sufficiently described by their titles, Marche, Angelus, Air de ballet, and Fete Boheme. Beethoven’s violin Romanza in G, opus 40, has been given with fine effect by the full band, and the ‘Lohengrin’ selections have been increased by the addition of the Bridal Procession from the close of the 2^d Act.”