Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-06
A MUSICAL ENTERPRISE.

ar~ranrdnent. for a Grand Opera FestivR
in Clica~o, Under the nircctorshiP o.
1,narahtic and P~ublic-Spirited Cltlzehs-
The distinguished and Talented Artisu
EnpaEed-Other Attractions.
CudAGo, Jan. 15.-m answer 10 a very
gene,d demand for grand opera at populal
n,ic,; land with a view at the same time o:
nrod1ling the inspired works of the mas
ters NTH greater perfection and grandeur
than has heretofore obtained i'll our coun'
| try, lie Opera Festival Association OF Cht
caoe has been eniisting in its Board OF Di.
ractoE many of our most energetic anc
nnh7i t.snirited citizens. They have ar
ranr1d to have the Exposition Building fol
| the IIst festival, which will be on April {
| Taler Monday, and last two weeks. Al
| auditorium with Il seating capacity OF eight
| thorand will be erected, a large stage and
| n h~aidsomely decorated procenlum built
| Thefoom will be heated and comfortable
| seat furnished; u grand promenade and
| salh for refreshment and social intercourse
| beileen acts will be elegantly fitted up. and
lalbs and gents dressing-rooms prepared,
so THAT the charm of elaborate toilets
maj be INDUCED in by the fair sex
The association has contracted with Col
onll J.. III. Mapleson for his entire troupe
witch will not only include Patti, Scalchi.
Nevada. Cardinelli, the famous tenor, anc
ihe great baritone, DeAna, Serbolini, tile
:anlous basso, but also, by special con.
tract. Nine. Fursh-Madi and the celebrated
tenor, Gianini. Nine. Patti will emphasize
the event by making her last appearance
before our people prior to her fnal ae
parture for Europe, and will signalize he
farewell with her first appearance az
Elsa in Wagner's favorite work, "Lohen
GRIM A feature of the festival Will De the
grand local chorus OF two hundred 1fesf
voices, already drilling under MI. lratts
direction, in addition to the sixty now
in the troupe. The orchestra will alst
be increased to 100 musicians, under Slgnol
Arditi's direction, and all the stage auXllla
ries will be upon a proportionate scale. IN
repertory will comprise "Loh@ngrln,H
''Faust," sAida," "L'Africaine," "Hugue
nots," t'Martha," 'Semiramide," 'IPuri
tani,'' 'Il Trovatore," '.Der Freischutz,
'Traviata' and ''Mirella' for the novelty
thus embracing works from the German
Italian and French schools. The prices vii
be the same as the May festival, 81. So anc
So. so. and in anticipation of large eXcur
sion parties from distant cities excursion
rates will be secured on the railroads, thu
enabling strangers to throng the city ant
contribute to a grand gala carnlva OF song
The building itself will be made an attrac
tive feature. by means of the grand prone
made richly decorated, and the salon wher
works Of art sculpture and painting) vii
contest with foliage plants and flowers TO
the attention. Large mirrors beautiful,
draped will reflect the beauty of fair WON
ell and gallant men, and the European styl
of leaving the seats between acts will b
en- rcgel. A large number of private boNe
and Wroscenium boxes will accommodate
those who desire to be somewhat exclusive
and a driveway into the building has beef
planned. MI. Ferd. w. Peck, thu
public-spirited citizen, is President O
the Association, and the following gentle
men are associated with him Oh the Boar'
Of Directors: William Penn Nixon, Loui
Vail, George Schneider, John r. Walsh
A. A. Sprague, Eugene Carey, c. l." Hutch
inson, George F. Harding. S.. G. Pratt
the Musical and General Director for til
Association. With these energetic men t
manage the affairs of the festival, and sue
names as Joseph Medi]l, n. X. Fail
bank and G. M. Henderson to head the lis
of guarantors, the prospects are indeed e,
traordinary for Chicago's first grand oper
festival.