Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-07-20
|'SANGERFEST A
GREAT SUCCESS

O1AAx Al 0OOOAG0
Norwegian.Danish Singers Draw
a Large Crowd 10 Willmar
Park Auditorium.
Seldom if ever have the songs of
the Northlands been sung in Will
mar with such spirit and enthusi-
asm as that manifested by the Nor
wegian-Danish singers of the Twin
Cities in their work at the concert
in the Park Assembly auditorium
last Thursday evening. In spite of
the oppressive heat the grand cho-
rus sang with an inspiring dash and
abandon, and the repeated and con-
tinued applause which greeted each
number proved that the audience
was thoroly en- rapport. The work
of the chorus was especially good
in ''Olaf Tryvason" 1.-The Great
White Throng'', and the closing
number, Grieg's inspiring Land
sighting.' The last mentioned
number came as fitting climax to
splendid progam. Erick Oulie,
the director, deserves much credit
both for the arrangement of the
program as we'll as the finished
manner in which each number was
given. I.
Paulus Anderson, barytone, of
Minneapolis. sang the solo parts in
"Tbe Great White Throng' and
'Landsighting'' with sympathy
and understanding and his pleasing
voice was heard to excellent advant-
age in Kjerulf's my Heart and my
Lute' and Grieg's Il Love Thee"
which he sang as an encore. Miss
Elizabeth Middelthon, the Norwe-
gian soprano soloist, is singer of
breadth and inesse, but her voice
was not large enough to fill the
great auditorium. Her best num-
bers were Paulus' "Bribery',
Grieg's "Ragnhild'' and Reissig-
er' "On the Mountain'. Between
the two parts of the program Prof.
fessor Gustavus Johnson, the piano
soloist, played, with excellent in
depreciation, Grieg's "Peer Gynt"
suite, responding to calls for an en-
core with S0derman's ever popular
"Wedding March,.
A feature which: added great
deal to the enjoyment of the even
ing was the musical prelude fur
nished by the Spicer orchestra un-
der the leadership Of Prof. Swain.
They played a number Of the best
class of popular music, and they re-
ecived much and merited applause.
That they made hit is testified to
by the fact that the Park Assembly
management has already engaged
them to play at the sessions on
Thursday.
The singers arrived in the AFTER
noon and were met by a reception
committee and escorted to the Carl
son hall where a most delicious din
ner was served by committee of
Norwegian, Swedish and Danish la
dies. Speeches Of welcome were
made by E. C. Wellin and Mayor
H. S. Peterson, and DR.. Chr. John
son and Senator L. O. Thorpe also
made some happy remarks. On be
half of the visitors responses were
made by DR.. l. S. johnson of St..
Paul, Chr. Larson of St. Paul, and
Theo. F. Hamann, the active and
accommodating secretary of the Nor
wegian-Danish Singers Of the
Northwest, under whose auspices
the visit to Willmar was arranged.
After dinner there was a parade,
headed by the Willmar band, to
the auditorium where the final re-
hearsal was held, and at the con-
clusion Of the rehearsal the singers
were taken in automobiles on short
sightseeing trips thru the city.
Late in the evening a luncheon was
served at the Carlson hall, and the
Elks' hall was opened to the sing.
ers, and here they remained unit
their special pulled out for Sioux
Falls.
That the visitors appreciated
the efforts put forth by the people
of Willmar to entertain them i:
proven by the following report
printed in the Minneapolis Tidende
lit is not often that Willmar ha'
had ali opportunity to entertain ;
band Of singers, but they certainly
know how. The city was profusel!
decorated with streamers and flag
and presented a most festive ap
pearance. The dinner proved be
yond a doubt that the ladies O
I Willmar are just as successful il
a culinary way as their hsuband
are in business. On the whole tn
reception was a grand prelude t
the Sangerfest which later opene'
in Sioux F'alls.'
The concert was great success
in every way, and the great audi
torium was taxed almost to it's ca
pacity. 1t is to be hoped that thi
affair is only one of a good man
/ RI bo hold ot tho auditorium IN III