The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-25
MAENNERCHOR CONCERT.
A Large Audience Thoroughly En-.
joys the Programme.

The indianapolis Maennerchor's fourth
and final concert Of the present season last
night attracted an audience that could not
be accommodated by the seating facilities
of the hall. Many people stood both on the
lower floor and in the balcony. The concert
was the most finished and enjoyable Of the
season. The greater part of the credit for
the brilliant triumph achieved belongs to
Director Bellinger, whose patience and
skill were clearly manifest in the superb
work of the various chOruses.
The concert departed from the order that
has heretofore prevailed in that a single
work was presented instead of a varied
programme. The composition chosen for
this event was Heinrich Hofmann's beau
tiful ~cantata, THE Fable of the Fair
Melusina." The piece tells a Sweetly simple
story of the love of Count Raymond for
Melusina, Queen of the Water Spirits.
Melusina agrees to wed Raymond (whom
she loves fondly) on condition that he will
allow her every seventh day, which she
passes in company with her fairy subjects.
The counts mother, Clotilda, and his uncle
Sintram have their suspicious aroused at
the weekly disappearance of Melusina, and
charge that she is a witch who is respon-
sible for the blight that has fallen upon
the counts domain. This belief is shared
by the people who are Count Raymond's
dependents. and they clamor for the foul
witch" to be brought forth in order that
she may be slain. Raymond stoutly de-
tends his supernatural bride. and finally, in
desperation, although he has sworn to
never try to discover where Melusina
spends each seventh day, goes to the crys-
tai fountain. the bathing place of the water
spirits, in search of his bride. Discovering
the water nymphs disporting themselves
about their queen, Raymond is informed
that the breaking OF his oath has sealed his
doom. The king of the water spirits grants
Raymond his life at the insistent prayer
of Melusina. The count begs the boon of a
last embrace and kiss from his spouse, and
as the pair are in each others arms the
nymphs cry that the embrace of the queen
of water nymphs is death. Raymond dies
and Melusina is borne away to an oceon
cavern. The epilogue, sung by the full
mixed chorus, recites that those who visit
Raymond's tomb may, If they listen closely.
hear Melusina whisper 20 Raymond, be-
GoetZ sang the soprano part of Melusina
admirably. her voice ringing true particu-
larly in the lower passages. A trihe too
much volume was used in the higher notes,
tending TO give an uneven effect when the
soprano was mingled with the chorus. Mr..
Steinhilber had the baritone part of Count
Raymond, and sustained ii with such fine
effect as to evoke a number of hearty
sung by Mrs. Alice Fleming Evans, whose
splendid alto was perhaps never more en-
joyed. Mr.. j. 2. FrenZel, who had the bass
roles of Sintram and the king Of the water
spirits, scored a well-earned triumph. His
voice, of much power and excellent quality,
under perfect control, has seldom been
heard in solo work, and his finished singing
was, therefore, in the nature of a reyela-
ton even to his friends. At the close of
the concert. which was all too brief. as
evidenced by the audiences insistent
clamor for an encore at the finale. Director
Bellinger and the soloists were warmly
congratulated upon the brilliance of the
event. Immediately after the fall of the
curtain the auditorium was cleared for
by the Montani Bros orchestra. Supper
was served at 1890.