The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-30
4 DAY LATE.
The Golden Jubilee Saengerfest
Got Started Last Night.
Opened to an Audience of
10000 People.
WAS NEARLY 4 PANIC
When a Board Cracked in the
Balcony.
WAS NEARLY A PANIC
Closing Number Included the
Star SpangIed Banner.

Cincinnati, O., June 30.-After an exas-
perating delay of over "A hours, which
caused not a few of Cincinnatfs thousands
of visitors to leave the city, the opening
concert of the Golden Jubilee Saengerfest
of the North American Saengerbund was
given last night. Within half an hour
concert carpenters still swarmed through
the great auditorium, and the saving and
bearing out debris jostled the hite-gown-
ed chorus girls who appeared on time and
ly assigned. Up to the last minute seats
were being erected in the parquet, while
of the gathering multitude workmen were
closing the last roof opening OF the grand
But the end of the preparations came at
last; AS if by magic the ham hamm af h ana
voices filled the great structure as the
crowds gathered at all the doors We're
The vast interior of the hall can be de-
sheIi-the similarity is in shape only. as
the vast beams and springing arches, and
gest strength altogether different from
egg-sheu structure. The effect of such
is to bring the audience and the occupants
of the stage into easy cOmpanionship. I'm
der the remarkable circumstance of the
finishing work on the hall, there was but
little opportunity for elaborate decoration.
FestoonS OF evergreen at the upper Hne
where the dome starts and like festoon-
ing of red, white and blue on the next line
below constituted the decorations. The
entire interior was brilliantly illuminated
with arc lights.
An audience that packed the balcony
and almost filled the dress circle and par
9 en rae and Gl 9tra
numbered over two thousand more.
At 8:25, only ten minutes after the desig-
mated time. applause greeted the appear
ance of Louis Ehrgott, the musical di-
the opening notes of Beethoven's conse-
Grafton of the house. Five minutes later
site the stage, followed by a woman's
scream. started what looked for a min
sense prevailed over needless fear The
orchestra did not lose note, and when
cool heads that had restrained the
thoughtless ones and averted a catastro-
The first vocal work given was. the
Gloria" from The Lord Is King, by
echestra: The tesr Of the acoustic s quail
and vocal numbers indicated success. The
closing passage of B2rnaby' s Gloria so
thrilled the audience that salvos of APP
The oratorical efforts seemed equally
Satisfactory, as in turn the welcoming ad-
Mayor Tafel, President Bettman of the
President beiier of the North American
There was touch of pathos in the song
'tHerbsleid,'' by Victor Herbert. sung by
the Louisville Liederkranz, Karl ScInidt,
conductor. This is the only remaining
member, of the original North American
The first solo number fell to Miss Char
lotta Maconda, who sang Delibe's Bell
Song" Her voice completely filled the
great hall and loud recalls came from
every part of the house.
The concert closed with the prize can
tata by DR.. N. J. Elsenheimer of Cincin-
natl. conducted by the composer Tt is
entitled "Weihe der Kuenste'' (''Consecra-
ton of the Arts'). The chorus especially
elected appreciative applause. As the
theme pictures America the fostering
home of art, the composer ingeniously in
the air of The Star Spangled Banner
which aroused a high pitch of enthusi-
aSH1
The initial concert was in every way a
success.