Thomas Sunday Evening Concert: 33rd

Includes program.

“The thirty-third Sunday concert at Steinway Hall last night was the adieu of the orchestra and its conductor, who is about starting for Europe. The part of the programme assigned to this excellent body of musicians was excellent in every sense of the word. First, the preludes of Liszt—the best ever he wrote—full of massive and graceful thoughts; then Lindpainter’s Standard Bearer, with the inevitable trumpet and trombone obligato; next the Madeleine Waltz, a very clever and taking piece of orchestration; Wagner’s overture to Rienzi; the romance from L’éclair, with Eben’s capital flute solo, and the overture to William Tell, with Morgan’s unrivaled organ accompaniment. Mr. George Simpson sang oratorio and ballad selections in his usual style. Although the orchestra will appear no more, the Sunday concerts will be kept on by Mr. Harrison, with organ, pianos and first class artists, up to the highest standard of excellence.”

“…Mr. Harrison’s thirty-third Sunday concert, which took place at Steinway Hall last evening, was notable—besides offering a number of performances peculiarly interesting at least, if nothing very new—as giving us the last that is to be seen or heart of Mr. Theodore Thomas for some months. In a few days Mr. Thomas departs for Europe, intending to be absent until the Fall. The concerts which this progressive young musician has conducted during the past Winter make a musical season, and a rich one, of themselves; and since we last spoke at length of the entertainments he has directed, many things have been heard, each of which, if merit had its due, would be with a separate notice. But Mr. Thomas, who is as indefatigable as he is clever, must take the will for the deed. The feature of last evening’s programme was Liszt’s deeply felt, admirably written, and brilliantly scored ‘Preludes,’ the performance of which created the liveliest impression.” 

“Mr. Theodore Thomas celebrated, last night ‘his last appearance previous to departure for Europe;’ and in nothing better than by his fine orchestral conduct of Liszt’s Preludes. These, the most novel feature of Sunday night’s concert, contain some of the most interesting thoughts of an imaginative and brilliant executive composer, who writes wildly, if not always too well. The orchestra was somewhat at large in the Wagnerian element; for beside the Preludes came the overture to Rienzi, with all the tempestuous health of ‘the future’—well given, under Mr. Thomas’s compelling baton. Other agreeable performances were Mr. Geo. Simpson’s utterance of Handel’s aria ‘Waft her angels,’ and Mr. G. W. Morgan’s Mendelssohn organ solo—a large, rich composition, warmly played. Hálevy’s L’Éclair romance, one of the truest melodies ever written by a French composer, has been often heard at these concerts; but it was, perhaps, never better played than last evening.”