Thomas Popular Garden Concert: 44th

“The concerts which Mr. Thomas inaugurated last month, at Terrace Garden, are continued with unabated success. In the worst weather hundreds of visitors will be found in the large concert hall, but on fine evenings, the company present can be counted by thousands. Every one feels the keen enjoyment of listening to beautiful music, admirably played, under circumstances the most easy and agreeable. The surrounding of trees, and the social gossip of family groups, the subdued light and unrestrained courteousness of all around, make a visit to Terrace Garden not only desirable but delightful. This evening is partly devoted to the performance of some of the finest classical music, and the character of the visitors may be judged from the fact that on the evenings, Tuesday and Friday, so appropriated, the largest and most fashionable audiences will always be found.”

No program given.

No program given.

“To say that a large audience gathered at Terrace Garden on Thursday evening would not be giving a proper idea of the numbers of new Yorkers, young and old, who, leaving their heated houses, crowded the Third avenue cars to have the pleasure of listening to the music dispensed without parsimony by Mr. Thomas and his orchestra. This was not all, for the good people present generally seemed to consider that the wants of the inner man were not to be despised, but, on the contrary, to partake of refreshments for ‘their stomach’s sake, was the most sensible course to be adopted. Accordingly, lager flowed freely, and good humor was the order of the evening, so much so, indeed, that the good selections of music were not listened to as reverently as they deserved. Mr. Thomas took all in good part, and did not in the least abate his zeal, but went on to the end and until he finally secured the attention of his hearers.

The programme, as usual, was good, although the light music was a little in excess of what good taste might have demanded. The overture to Don Giovanni was almost faultless in execution; all that was wanted was a little more entrain. A fantasie, ‘Traumbilder,’ by Lanner [probably Lumbye], was encored. The object of the piece is effect, and the composer succeeded in accomplishing what he wanted; for the way in which he brings in a German stringed instrument called the zither, is certainly quite cheering. The modulation from loud to soft is excellent, and altogether the execution is highly creditable; but such pieces are too numerous already; it is not the kind of music which is wanted in New York. What is wanted is good, sound, classical music, by which the people at large might have their taste improved. Several such pieces were performed during the evening, seemingly to the intense gratification of the audience. The terzett and finale to Lucrezia Borgia, the overture to the Domino Noir, and the overture to Othello by Rossini were in better taste. The concert closed with a descriptive piece by Ballini [probably Ballin] ‘Panorama of Vienna.”