Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-20
THE OLDEST SOCIETY.
"REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS
OF GEsANGvEREIN VIRGINIA.
SOME OF ITS DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS
Appearance I'm Opern-The Great
Sangerfest of 1S73-Ciub's Direc-
tors-Present officers and Proposed
Trip to Philadelphia.
The Gesangverein Virginia!

The Gesangverein Virginia!
/ feel deeply the great responsibility
I assume when l attempt TO write of this
time-honored organization. Singing in
German, many have been unable to pro-
perly appreciate the great work they
have, and are still, doing. 1t was or
ganized on July 1, 1852, with the follow
ing members: Messrs. Oscar Cranz.
Krouse, keppler. Ritterhauser. Schaadt,
Lemkuhl, Welmer. Dollinger, thinner
mann. Kasnig. Grasening, Behrend,
Emminger, and A. GippeIlch.
The first president was Mr.. A. Gppe-
rich, still one of our honored citizens.
He was followed by Messrs. Craig, KEEP
pier, Boehmer, Fischer. DR.. Greye,
Messrs. Hainesh. SieDert, Brauer, People.
Klein. Siegel, Miller. zimmerman, Spill
ing Qwo terms). Lindner. Ebel, Boschen,
Wenzel, and Herman Schmidt. Many
OF our prominent citizens will be Iecog-
nzed among these, and some OF the
Oldest members are Messrs. Louis Reu-
ger, i. Hassel, and Casper Wend-
Iinger Their musical directors have
been Messrs. Krouse. Ambold. +. ana c.
Siebert, Frank, Moeller. Gepbardt. Ide,
Charles l.. Siegel, Bauer, and c. +.
Mutter.
DURING WAR TIMES.
Among their first rehcarsal-rooms were
New Market Hall. on Marshall street,;
one on Broad below Ninth; one in the
rear of Reuger's, Ninth street. aud at
present, in the commodious annex TO
Sanger Hall.
In 1853 they attended n Sangerfest, in
Philadelphia, and in 1863 one in Balti-
more. The war found many Of the men,
bers of the society enlisted in the Ger
man Rifles, Captain Miller. They were
attached TO the First Virginia, as Com
pany X, and served with that gallant
command. Other members joined Cap
tain Lybrock's company, attached to the
Fifteenth Virginia, and served under
Magruder.
Yet the club kept up its rehearsals.
and with such success that, in 1853,
q charter was obtained. 1t was again
Incorporated after the var. Its objects
are identical with those of the Philhar-
monte, but greatly amplihed. so as to be
able to enlarge their sphere OF usefulness,
| for many charities have been In
cluded in their noble work. as / well
know, our association assisting them
| on several occasions.
In catering TO the tastes of their amuse-
mentioning patrons they have given
varied entertainments, concerts, operas
| festivals, theatricals, masked balls, out
| ings, and picnics. Their masked balls
were brilliant and became so popular that
| they had TO so from Assembly Hall "a
| the Theatre, and finally to the Armory
! 1t was about the time Of our reorganiza-
| ton that this club commenced showing
signs Of greater activity. which soon
/ . 1. II.
1t was during our halcyon days. Was
| It a mere coincidence, or was it not rather
| from a generous spirit of emulation
| This may have been the incipient cause
| but the great one was that grand Charli,
| Siegel" came to the fore and developed
| his wonderful talents, and shone forth
the brightest star that ever adorned tn,
| galaxy of Richmond's musical talent.
INCLUDED MANY FINE VOICES.
At this time they possessed some lovel,
| voices. There was Emil Fischer. will
his clear. sweet, flexible. high tenor.
was while the Carl Formes Hablemar
opera troup was playing an engagement
here that they were entertained at al
| informal social by the Gesangverien, an,
| Mr.. Fischer sang. He sustained higl
"C' tin old Carl sprang from his seat
rushed over, and embracing him. gave hin
a smack only equalled by the 'smacl
for the smack when the pig was a sittini
q tween EN-" exchanged by Kat.
Mooney and her dirty slyinth cousin,
which the late Professor f. Nichola
Crouch used TO sing to us about Henri,
Shuttle, a former member for 1 believ
he had been cut off by an untimely death
had a wonderful voice of great power
nexibility and compass. j remember hear
ing him sing that beautiful baritone sole
"A Soldiers Life" from the Bohemian
Girl. gloriously, and Immediately after
wards sing equally well the tenor OF
auartette, which took him up to the uppe
"B"
Louis Perrot was another SINCE
brought out under Mr.. Selgeps director
| ship. His deep basSo was superb an
his acting grand. and the club soon Ia
an opportunity of displaying these quail
ties. for in 1873 Mr.. Siegel brought on
that grand old opera, "Der Frier
schuetz" with a splendor and cas-
never equalled in Richmond. Mrs. Jaco
Reinhardt appeared as Agatha In tn
first presentation; Mrs. A. Wendlinge
In the second. and In the third. Mr..
| Reinhardt being sick. and the Angel G
Death having deprived US OF that swee
singer, Mrs. wendlinger, the services Q
Nine. Carnisser were secured. for
had to be repeated three times TO satisf
our delighted people. Emil Fischer wa
/ Max; Louis Pergot, Casper Miss Nauni