The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-24

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I TwENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRA-
T1oS OF THE GEsANGvEREIN VIRGINIA-DED-
IcAT1oS OF THE NEW HAI.L,-The new hall
OF the Gesangverein Virginia, on Seventh
street, will be dedicated tonight. Twenty
EYe wears ago the society was organized. 1t
| lived through the troublous times Of the
war, though the opportunities for improve
ment were few, and struggled on through
the discouragements OF the 1irst years OF
peace, gradually growing stronger and eX-
| tending it's membership and held OF usefu-
ness. It 1873, at the Sangerfest here, it
came prominently forward, and has since
been constantly MISUNDERSTANDING q
! high musical taste in the community, and
| by its entertainments affording Its members
and friends much pleasure. The two ope-
ras. Der Freychutz and Stradella, pre-
sented to the public by the Gesangverein,
are memorable. In excellence OF singing
and acting. ard in completeness Of stage
business, they have very rarely been sur
passed here even by large professional
companies. All the resources OF the organ
ization were carefully husbanded. and n
few years ago the property on Seventh
street between Broad and Marshall was
purchased and the building enlarged anc
| improved. But even then it did not meet
their wants, and with characteristic enter
prise they determined that it should be
remodelled and added to and made in all re-
spects suitable to the necessities Of their
growing organization.
Within the present year great changes
have been made in the building. Under
tue supcrintcndence OF A.Eybrock, archi-
tcct, and Mcssrs. B. Brauer, g. A. Book,
and George Klein, building committee, its
walls have been extended and one story
added to its height. The basement is used
for bowling-aley. The street floor is oc-
cupied by handsome saloon, dining-room,
and kitchen, and-two entrances to the ball
above. On the second floor is the hall. Its
pitch is equal to two ordinary stories. 1t is
60xH feet, and, with the spacious gallery,
will afford seats for nearly 500 persons.
Beneath the gallery is the library and prac-
ticing-room with portable partition run
ming along the line of columns. The partition
will be removed when it is desirable to
make that much more room, and the space
| It encloses NAV be considered as belonging
| to the hall. The stage is twenty or twenty
two feet deep, and is raised above the hall
floor only about two and half feet, so that
at all times those upon it will be in full
view OF the audience. Some two or three
sets OF scenery are already prepared, and
more will be gotten ready by the time they
are required. On the right OF the stage are
| two dressing-rooms, and private staircase
| leading from the garden and an entrance
from the main front stairway. The hall has,
| In fact, three ways Of entrance and exit, ana
| in case of alarm or panic could be emptIed
| in two or three minutes.
Old singers and musicians say that its
acoustcal properties are unsurpassed. That
Is the opinion OF Mr.: c. l.. Siegel, the mu.
sical director, a gentleman on whose skiil
and taste the Richmond public knows 1t
may with confidence rely. The hall IS neat
and mfortabIe-comfortab for the audi
ence and for those whose business Will take
them on the stage. From time to time 1t
will be further beantitied and improved,
and the ultimate purpose is to extend it in
length in the direction OF the garden. The
property has so far cost the society only
about SI1, 900. Any businessman will say
that the money is we'll invested. The sa-
loon; dining-room, and boWling-alley are
rented to Dir. Zimmerman for 81, 600 per
Rnnum. ..--.--...-.,-m-,....
The hall will be chiefly devoted to the
uses Of the society, but on proper occasions
for suitable entertainments will be rented
out.
Alto O'Clock to-day (lionday) the Gesang-
verein will throw its flags to the breeze.
Rising from the roof, near to the front cor
nice, are three poles. From one will be un-
furled the banner of the society; from an
other the national colors, and from the
other the flag OF Germany. Kessnich,s
band will be present, and the occasion will
be an interesting one.
The programme for tonight is as follows
C. L. Siegel, director. l. Overture
Yelva Reissiger), Kessnich's orchestra. 3
Siegesgesang der Deutschen (Abt), Gesang-
verein Virginia and orchestra. 5. Presen'
tation of the keys by the Building Commit
tee. 4. Dedicatory Song-words by G. y.
Peple, music by c. L. Siegel-Gesangve-
rein Virginia. 5. Address of the Presl-
dent, II. G. Miller. 6. Hymnus "a. Mohr),
Gesangverein Virginia and orchestra.
Then the banquet will follow.
Then will come the ball, OF which the
following is the programme: Professor a.
F. Lsube, bail director. 1. Polonalse,
Faust. 2. Quadrlle (Freundschaft), Strauss.
3. Walzer (Autograph), Strauss. 4. Lancers
(Girotle Girofa), Lecocq. 5. Walzer lMa-
dame Angot), Lecocq. 6. Schottisch (Win-
ternacht), Weingarten. 7. Quadrille cIete-a-
Tete) Zikoff. s. Walzer Am sch0nen Rhein)
Kelar Bella. 0. Gallop (schneIlaufer), Faust.
10. Lancers de Gamol. Weingarten. IL.
Walzer-Polka. y. Cotllon. .WaIzer, Faust.
The committee in charge Of the dedica-
tory arrangements consists OF Messrs. A.
Moll, A. Gipperich, w. Grebe, G. L. Siegel,
and j. Hechler. Only members of the So
cietv and representatives Of the various
newspapers will be present at the celcbra-
ton, as it is intended to be social retnion
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