On today's date in 1876, the New York Philharmonic Society closed its season with what The New York Times called a "precise and effective rendering" of the Beethoven Symphony No. 4.

Back then, same as today, a Beethoven Symphony on the program made for good box office. And a virtuoso soloist on the program doesn't hurt either. If the name of S.B. Mills doesn't ring a bell these days, back in 1876 the pianist was a draw… and Mr. Mills' performance in Chopin's E- Minor Piano Concerto was also well received by press and audiences. Reviewing the concert for The New York Times a few days later, the paper's anonymous critic enthused about the Chopin, writing "This elaborate composition is so seldom heard in its entirety as to be almost a novelty."

With a Beethoven Symphony and a Chopin Concerto on the program, perhaps the Philharmonic felt safe enough to risk a REAL novelty for good measure, and so, on the same program, they gave the American premiere of Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet" Fantasy-Overture, a work then about 6 years old.

The Times critic was less enthusiastic about this "new" music, however.

"Admirable as a specimen of full and powerful instrumentation," he wrote, "we cannot say that the strange themes and violent passages of this vigorous and rather shapeless achievement impressed us profoundly."