Includes program. 

“Mr. Levy, the cornet-player, made his first appearance at the Hippodrome on Thursday and met with a very cordial reception. He played again last night, choosing for his only piece on the programme his own ‘Maud Waltz,’ but adding to it, in compliance with encores, ‘The Last Rose of Summer’ and  the ‘Carnival of Venice.’ He is little changed since his last previous visit to America, and has lost none of his much admired art. In purity of tone and facility of execution he has few rivals; certainly he is the most remarkable bravura performer on the cornet we have ever had in the United States, and if he puts but little feeling into his music he puts an abundance of brilliancy; after all one does not look for soul in a cornet. Mr. Arbuckle also played last night; Mr. Sohst sang ‘Non e ver!’ and there was the usual miscellany by the band, not all of it very well done. The standards of criticism, however, at the Hippodrome are not high. The audience was large and apparently well entertained.” 

“The charming summer garden in which Mr. P. S. Gilmore wields the baton every night was crowded to its utmost capacity last evening. The programme was of the most attractive kind, as may be seen from the following [see above].

The magnificent band which Gilmore has now, by fair dint of hard work, long training and unremitting exertions brought to perfection, was heard to particular advantage in the opening overture , the exquisite selection from Weber (‘Euryanthe’ being one of the great composer’s most delightful works), and the ever welcome ‘Invitation à la Valse,’ by the same composer. Then there was a concert aria by Riviere, of the true popular order; a part song, by Mendelssohn, and a ringing military march. The audience stood up when the national anthem of America was played. The cornet solo of Mr. Arbuckle was heartily encored, and Mr. Sohst by his superb rendering of Tito Mattei’s song was equally honored. But the event of the evening was Mr. Levy’s wonderful playing. A storm of applause served as a gratifying introduction to the ‘Maud Waltz,’ and two recalls followed the artist’s work. Mr. Levy has considerably improved since we heard him last, four years ago. His inimitable powers of execution remain the same, and improvement on them would scarcely seem possible, and in breadth of expression, passionate feeling and artistic delivery, Mr. Levy has gained much. He is now without a compeer in the world in cornet playing. In the ‘Maud Waltz’ the nervous telling tone of his instrument made itself felt in every part of the immense building, and tenderness and instrumental tears characterized the poetic rendering of the ‘Last Rose of Summer.’ Then there was quite a comic quaintness in the peculiar rendering of the variations on the ‘Carnival of Venice.’ Passages which would puzzle fleet fingered pianists or swift bowing violinists were rendered by Levy with an ease and finish that set mere technique at defiance, and above all there was shown in the most positive manner the poetic feeling of a great artist. Mr. Gilmore may well be proud of such an invaluable addition to a military band which is now justly acknowledged to be the first in America. With such a band and such a beautiful garden, it is no wonder that the best representatives of the metropolitan public flock nightly to enjoy the best of music and all that nature and art can contribute toward summer enjoyment.”