Bernard Ullman arranged for the Belgian violinist Henry Vieuxtemps (1820-81) to contribute some novelty to Sigismund Thalberg's second season in America, which was marred, however, by the financial panic of 1857. Audiences in the eastern cities who had already heard him multiple times were reluctant to spend money when finances were tight, and many concerts were canceled. Thalberg thus made two forays into the Midwest, where audiences who had yet to hear him were more eager to part with money. Like Leopold de Meyer before him, Thalberg brought his own Erard grand pianos, but he eventually had an understanding with the American piano firm of Chickering to supply pianos for his concerts. His last appearances in New York were at the orchestral concerts of the French conductor Alfred Musard (1828-81).