Theodore Thomas Public Rehearsal

Event Information

Venue(s):
Steinway Hall

Conductor(s):
Theodore Thomas [see also Thomas Orchestra]

Price: $.75; $.25 extra, reserved seat

Event Type:
Orchestral

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
16 June 2025

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

07 Jan 1875, 2:00 PM

Performers and/or Works Performed

1)
LIST OF PERFORMER(S)/ORGANIZATION(S)
Participants:  Thomas Orchestra;  Franz Remmertz
2)
Paride ed Elena, overture
Composer(s): Gluck
3)
Euryanthe, selection
Composer(s): Weber
Participants:  Franz Remmertz
4)
Symphony, no. 6, op. 189, D minor
Composer(s): Raff
5)
Ring des Nibelungen, Der. Walküre, Die, selections
Composer(s): Wagner
Participants:  Franz Remmertz
6)
Symphony, no. 5, op. 67, C minor
Composer(s): Beethoven

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New-York Times, 01 January 1875, 7.

Includes program. 

2)
Article: New York Post, 06 January 1875, 4.

Descriptive analysis. 

3)
Article: New York Post, 07 January 1875, 2.

Descriptive analysis of “Wotan’s Farewell” and the “Magic Fire” scene.

4)
Review: New-York Daily Tribune, 08 January 1875, 6.

“The public rehearsal of Thomas’s Third Symphony Concert took place yesterday afternoon. The whole programme except the last piece (Beethoven’s C minor Symphony) was either unfamiliar or altogether new to the people of New-York. Raff’s Sixth Symphony in D minor was the chief of these novelties in point of dimensions as well as in freshness, and it aroused of course a great deal of curiosity on the part of a public which has taken so kindly to ‘Im Walde’ and ‘Lenore.’ It is not likely to be as popular as either of those works, nor will it be as well liked by musicians, although of course it is beautifully scored and contains many charming passages. The most characteristic movements are the Vivace which stands for the usual Scherzo, and the Larghetto which has the rhythm of a march. Far more attractive to the real connoisseur than the symphony was the splendid selection from Wagner’s ‘Walküre,’ namely Wotan’s Farewell, and the Fire Scene which immediately follows that passage and brings the second division of the great Nibelungen tetralogy to a close. Mr. Remmertz sang the part of Wotan, as he did when the music was first performed at one of the Thomas concerts two years ago.”

5)
Review: New York Post, 09 January 1875, 3.

“Mr. Theodore Thomas will give his third symphony concert at Steinway Hall this evening. At the public rehearsal on Thursday afternoon, Wagner’s music from ‘Walküre’ was welcomed with loud and prolonged acclamations. Mr. Franz Remmertz proved himself to be fully equal to undertake the delivery of the vocal part of this extremely beautiful and highly original music. It would be difficult to particularize, but probably the part which received the greatest admiration was the deeply-pathetic phrase in which Wotan bids farewell to Brunhilde. He also sang a scene for Lysiart, from Weber’s celebrated opera ‘Euryanthe,’ which, with its alternations of recitative and air (andante con moto) and final vivace feroce, offered another favorable opportunity for the display of declamatory powers of a high order.

Gluck’s overture ‘Paris and Helen’ and Beethoven’s Symphony in C minor were, as a matter of course, fully enjoyed. The new Symphony by Raff, which we have not considered one of this successful composer’s greater works, was by an exceptionally good performance made as attractive as possible.

The Wagnerian selection will make this concert one of the most notable of the season. The popularization of such music which must follow on its being fairly heard a few times will have a great influence on the progress of musical art.”