Orchestrion Concert

Event Information

Venue(s):
Atlantic Garten [through 7/67]

Proprietor / Lessee:
William [proprietor] Kramer
[proprietor] Hambrecht

Price: $.10; children free

Performance Forces:
Instrumental

Record Information

Status:
Published

Last Updated:
9 June 2016

Performance Date(s) and Time(s)

25 Mar 1866, 3:00 PM

Program Details

Kramer, Hambrecht and Co., proprietors

NYSZ: $.10; NYH $.25.

Citations

1)
Advertisement: New York Herald, 24 March 1866, 7.

“The great Orchestrion lately owned by the Grand Duke of Baden, which has been purchased and imported by the undersigned at an enormous expense, will play for the first time this season at the above-mentioned place.  In this instrument, THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD, are combined the most modern improvements made in the construction of organs. . . . It combines all the qualities of the most powerful orchestra, being composed of over nine hundred instruments all harmonizing to satisfy the most scrupulous ear.”

2)
Advertisement: New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung und Herold, 25 March 1866.
3)
Review: New-Yorker Musik-Zeitung, 26 March 1866, 159.

The orchestrion at the Atlantic Garten has attracted many enthusiastic people. It cannot replace an orchestra, because it shows some “dark sides” in the faster passages. However, it is interesting and a “nice production of musical and artistic diligence.” The instrument cost $ 20,000 with transport, exhibition etc. It has to produce the revenue of $ 2,000 annually to pay for the expenses.