Litchfield enquirer., 1874-03-26
The Thomas Concert.

The Thomas concert, at Winsted, on Monday evening, was decided success. The Opera House was filled and the re- ceipts could hardly been short of the $1,- 900 that are required for an evenings en- tertainment by the great orchestra. The programme, though not so satisfac- tory to some of US as if it had contained a full symphony, really gave a splendid exhibition of the various kinds of music to which the orchestra is adapted. The concert opened with the famous Tannhau- ser overture. We believe Wagner under values this as rather common place, youthful production of his. It is novel enough, however, to make the selection from Beethoyen's 8th symphony, which followed, seem quite a classical and al- most methodical production at the daring originality and irregular fer vor of whose ''music of the future the musicians of his day wondered and doubt ed as the musicians of our day wonder and doubt over Wagner
 Mir. Whitney then sung Rolling and Foaming Billows," from the Creation, very finely, though we were really not more pleased with his rendering of that fine bass solo than with Mir. Wickes at our performance of the Oratorlo in Washing ton, last fall.
 The violin solo by Mr. Listeman was wonderful and beautifully executed thing of Vieutemps, the latter part of which we enjoyed exceedingly by looking away from Mir, Listeman, while he did it. He is just the violinist to lead great orchestra, but lacks the quiet ease and grace of great soloist.
 The Liszt Rhapsodie'' which closed the first part, if not the music of the fu- ture, was quite far enough advanced for us. It is a magnificent thing, just suit ing such an orchestra as MT. Thomas leads, and IS in exact keeping with the sketch of the great pianist given by an enthusiastic pupil of his in series of be- ! witching letters from Weimar, published in the April Atlantic.
 The second part dealt mainly with the music of the present and of the past. Of ture to William Tell, which has been "le- gal tender" for generation or more from all sorts of orchestras and bands, and fearfuIly slaughtered all the while by all manner of pipe, reed and hand organs, and which, above all, Is work of art and not of genius. Its opening movement in which the air is taken by the violoncello, is really very beautiful and was quite a revelation to such as are familiar only with piano perversions of the overture.
 Strongly in contrast with William Tell came Schumann's most beautiful "Trau- merei." It does not seem as if ten gener- ations of hand and other organs could make it hackneyed; though it isn't safe to under-rate their power.
 The "Three Fishers" by Mir Whitney was encored
 The Blue Danube Waltz was beautiful ly played and enthusiastically received.
 The Nocturne from Mendelsshons Mid- summers Night Dream was a delicious piece followed only too soon by the trum- pets that usher in the celebrated Wedding March, magnificent thing and magnif- gently executed. Those who like trunl- pets like it. We don't like trumpets
 It would be absurd for us 10 attempt to add anything to the commendation Mir. Thomas receives from all good musicians for his magnificent and successful orches- tral concerts. The precision, animation and neatness of execution that character ize his stringed instruments have never been equalled in this country, while his performers on reed and wind instruments are evidently soloists of decided and many of them of unequalled merit. May he and his glorious orchestra long continue to interpret the best music to a public that is fast learning to appreciate it