Thomas Central Park Garden Concert

“Grand Beethoven night;” includes program.

Includes program. 

“A ‘Beethoven programme’ was interpreted at the Central Park Garden last evening, to the loudly-expressed delight of an extremely large audience. The fact that the performance attracted a numerous concourse in spite of the stormy weather speaks well for the condition of public taste in this city, and the reverent silence which pervaded during the concert offered corroborative evidence of the existence of a real love of classical music among many hundred persons, at least, in New-York. The septet (opus 20,) arranged for orchestra, afforded, perhaps, the most striking proof of the band's proficiency. The precision and delicacy of its execution left absolutely nothing to wish for. The fluent melodies and what might be called the fine work of the composition were handled with so much sympathy of sentiment and cleanness of touch that only the volume of tone reminded the listener that a complete corps of musicians, instead of a few soloists, were giving voice to the lovely phrases and definition to the exquisite arabesques of the master. The rendering of the septet was, in brief, perfect at all points, and its impression was so decided that the applause did not die away for some minutes. The most important number of the evening was the Fifth Symphony, in the andante of which the ‘cellos distinguished themselves particularly, while the uncertainty of the horns was now and then disagreeably apparent. A remarkably fine rendering of the overture to ‘Leonore,’ No. 3, opened the third part of the programme, the selections including, besides those above cited [see above].” 

“Mr. Theodore Thomas devoted last evening at the Central Park Garden to Beethoven. The hall and vestibule were crowded, the storm forbidding the use of the garden. The audience was an attentive and appreciative one, and the program was memorable and delightful. The orchestra played, with its accustomed refinement and power, parts of the ‘Prometheus’ ballet music; the beautiful theme and variations (fifth movement), together with [see above for program].” 

“The very inclement weather which prevailed last night was anything but encouraging for amusement goers, yet, nevertheless, a goodly company assembled at Thomas’ Garden, attracted by that magnetic announcement, ‘A Beethoven Night.’ The Colossus of instrumental music was well represented in the following works [see above]. The orchestra always enters upon a grateful task when the works of the greatest of masters are presented to it. In the symphony particularly there was a wealth of artistic power and effect, such as might be expected from this incomparable organization.”