Strauss and Thomas in New York

Synopsis

If you were thumbing through The New York Times for today’s date in 1867, under the banner “Amusements” you would have seen this notice: “Mr. Theodore Thomas, having returned home from his trip to Paris and Berlin, will resume personal control of the concerts given by his orchestra at Terrace Garden this evening.”

Born in Germany in 1835, Theodore Thomas came to America when he was ten. By his 20s, as a young violinist, Thomas was a major player on the New York music scene, and by his 30s he had his own orchestra. During the summer months of 1867, the Theodore Thomas Orchestra gave six concerts a week at New York’s Terrace Garden on 3rd Avenue between 58th & 59th Streets.

Thomas had a passion for introducing new works to American audiences while they were still fresh: For example: Johann Strauss Jr’s “Blue Danube Waltz” was played for the first time ever in Vienna in February of 1867, and, thanks to Thomas, just five months later received its American premiere in midtown Manhattan on today’s date that same year. Thomas had picked up the new score in Europe, hot off the presses, and played it at his first concert back home.

In addition to light music by Johann Strauss, Thomas premiered daring “modern” works by Richard Strauss. Along with can-cans by Offenbach, Thomas programmed dance suites by J.S. Bach. Challenging scores and amusing bon-bons, music old AND new—the indefatigable Theodore Thomas conducted them all during his long and energetic musical career in New York, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

Music Played in Today's Program

Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825 – 1899) Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314 Columbia Symphony; Bruno Walter, cond. Sony 64467

On This Day

Births

• 1926 - Birth of German composer Hans Werner Henze, in Gütersloh, Westphalia

Deaths

• 1784 - German composer Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, age 73, in Berlin; He was the eldest son of J.S. Bach;

• 1925 - French composer Erik Satie, age 59, in Paris

Premieres

• 1716 - Handel: Concerto Grosso in F, Op. 3, no. 4a, in London (Gregorian date: July 12);

• 1927 - Bela Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 1, in Frankfurt, Wilhelm Fürtwängler conducting, with the composer as soloist

• 1933 - R. Strauss: opera "Arabella," in Dresden at the Staatsoper, Clemens Krauss conducting, with vocal soloists Viorica Ursuleac (Arabella), Alfred Jerger (Mandryka), Margit Bokor (Zdenka), and Martin Kremer (Matteo);

• 1937 - Milhaud: "Scaramouche" Suite for Two Pianos, in Paris

• 1948 - Rawthorne: Violin Concerto, at Cheltenham Festival in England

• 1984 - Sallinen: opera, "The King Goes Forth to France," in Helsinki

• 2000 - Diamond: Symphony No. 10, by the Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz conducting

• 2001 - Lazarof: "Legends form the Bible," for chorus, horns and vibes, in Berlin, by the Ars-Nova Ensemble, conducted by Peter Schwarz

Others

• 1867 - American premiere of Johann Strauss, Jr.'s "Blue Danube" Waltz at a summer concert of the Theodore Thomas Orchestra in New York (less than five months after the work's premiere in Vienna)

• 1897 - The Music Division of the Library of Congress is founded in Washington, D.C.