Strauss and Thomas in New York

Synopsis

Browsing The New York Times for today’s date in 1867, under the banner “Amusements,” you would have seen this notice: “Mr. Theodore Thomas, 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, he was a major player on the New York music scene, and by his 30s, had his own orchestra.

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

During his long and energetic musical career in New York, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Chicago, Thomas presented amusing musical bonbons and challenging scores old and new, ranging from Bach to Offenbach, and from Johann Strauss to Richard Strauss.

Music Played in Today's Program

Johann Strauss, Jr. (1825-1899): Blue Danube Waltz; Columbia Symphony; Bruno Walter, conductor; Sony 64467

On This Day

Births

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

Deaths

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

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

Premieres

• 1716 - Handel: Concerto Grosso 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 from 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.