The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-06-18
IWENTY-E|GHTH SAENGERFEST.
A RECORD BREAKER.
The saengerfest a Remarkable Financial
and Artistic Success

Seven thousand people witnessed the open
ing Of the ,wcnty-cighth Sacngtrfcst Of the
North American saengcrbund at the exposi-
tion building. rittsburg, Monday evening.
A. "a musical event II cclipsed all previous
TESTS, and as social success II has had no
equal.
President Cleveland formally opened the
Saengcrfest Mt o'clock 10y pressing an olec-
trio button In the executive mansion. This
closed an electric circuit, the immediate ef-
feet Of which was to illuminate In the music
hall an immense American flag formed 10y
hundreds of beautifully colored inrandcscont
lights. Before touching the button Mr..
Cleveland sent the following telegram to H."
chairman of the committee of arrangements
OF the Saengcrfcst.
II send hearty congratulations 20 the Ma
tional Sncngerfcs, and perform my part in
its inauguration with sincere wish for
the complete success OF this festival OF song
The message was read TO the assembled
throng In Exposition hall, and when the
operator at III" other end made the signal
80. X" the president touched the button.
Promptly after the following telegram
addressed TO the president was dispatched'
Exposition Hall,
"Pittshurg. Pa. June g.
Permit me. In the name and 10y the auth
ori;y Of tho executive committee Of the
twonty.,ighth national Sacng"ricst Of the
North American Sacng"rbuud, TO thank you
most heartily for your generous words and
kindly Offices In opening our grand festival.
Yours respectfully
JOHN DlMLlNG.
president Fest Committee. -
The program Of the opening concert was n
UNIQUE combination II popular and classic
music. Numbers from the great works Of
Wagner and Saiut-Sancs wrrc side by side
with ">uwnn"c River and the "Star Span
glcd Banner
From financial standpoint the Twenty
eighth Sasngerfrst was the greatest success
Of any fest ever held in this country. This
was admitted to De- true hy men who have
attended every icst held during this ven
Grafton. strange to say IL was principally
the attendance 81 the English-spcaking pco-
pie and their appreciation which mndo II so.
At the concerts. leaving out tho Germans,
who had IL IN charge, small percentage OF
the people who patronlz"d them were Der
mans.
The last concert was given on Wednesday
night with round after round Of enthusiastic
applause. singers, musicians and audience
joining In the hcartiost of expression OF
delight with each others part In the great
success of the musical festival
The hall was packed 10 its utmost capacity
and many were turned away for wart OF
even stan ling room. From the opening
number ot the evenings program, the inter
lulc, "Midnieht at Sedan composed hy
Heinrich Io"llner, and rendered 10y th'
festival orchestra, TO the closing number
"Old Dutch Songs, with solos. chorus and
orchestra. II was n jubilee for singers and
audience. the one giving and the other re-.
ceiying some OF the best portions Of th'
works of the great German composers. The
male choruscs were present In their grcn
strength the las. night on the stage. aud Ill,
splendid work OF Tuesday evening, when The
Pilgrims Chorus received the chief plac'
Of honor on the program. was repeated. In,
first choral number was "The Source %
Song 10y q. Blgdamus, with solo anC
orchestra. Carl Nncscr being the sOlOist Car
Ali directing. Frau katdrlne LOhsc- klafskl
was the prima donna of tn" night. Her irs
song was taken from "Tannhauscr,' go
Honorcd Halls" Her great success In ;hi,
song but preuded the supreme effort Of th,
singer I'm her second number from "Dtf
Go,.t,erdamm.eruns. II was "Br1nhi -
OF the yalkyres. deiles the power OF INC
great god. WotHn. As Brunhildc and u
Isolde, Klafsky has no rival.
The aria from "Wilhclm Tell was sung by
a. l.. Guile. lIo was announced for th
wcll-known quintet from Die Mcistorsing'
er,' but his place was most acceptably nlleC
nj the last moment 10y littsburg's popular
tenor, Mr.. Harry u. Brockett, Jr The Other
singers Of the quintet were Miss Lillian Bau
welt, Miss Gertrude Mny stein, Carl Narsc
and Emil Fischer. This number also In
cluded Hans Sachs address. sung by Emf
Fischer, the only Hans Snch. The beautiful
duet from act Of Lohcngrin was finely ren
dcrrd hy Miss Blnuvct and Miss Stein.
The last two seats sold in the gallery early
III the day. and they were FAR back sold foI
80 each, and the last seats sold ON th'
ground iloor sold for - each. The price O
the choic" seats were NJ "A premium and wrri
valued at Sl5 cHch Financially the fest wa
record breaker. \ grand parade on Thurs
day and picnic at Aliquipra Park close,
the festivities.