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.