Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-23
SINGERS GIVEN
GREAT OVATION
Enthusiastic Crowd at Auditorium
to Greet German vooalists Of
tn Saengerbund.
LOCAL CHORUS VOICES WELCOME

| Oudnd spent lbb udyubut nuuhB
giving welcome to the Saengerfest
visitors, and, when evening came,
Joined with those visitors in pack
ing the Auditorium to listen TO the
reception program Of the festival.
While the building was not
] jammed--for II takes a lot of peo-
| pie even to Till the Auditorium,
without approaching jam-it was
such an assemblage as testifies the
interest in the proceedings, and
enough to inspire the visiting
choristers and the Saengerbund
managers with the notion that
Omaha folks really do appreciate
music, and particularly under the
circumstances, that is so direct in
It's appeal.
Il was really beautiful sight. the
great hall decorated for the occasion
with flowers and flags. and great palms
and grasses. and the, lights and all
mingiing In a glorious picture. not the
least interesting feature being the mul-
atHSNs A0Nto AbhN@a w WIN NhN 1AhAt
of expectancy and n general aspect OF
welcome and hospitality everywhere
singers MasseS ON stage.
On the great stage tho local festival
chorus was massed. to open the recep.
ton, the sections singing q chorus Of
greeting, the music to the mems BY
Prof. NJ Bungert and to that OF ths
women by Prof. Tn. Rud. Reese, the
words by Dr. Herman Gerhard.
Promptly az o'clock "Wednesday
Prof. Theodor Rudolph Reese walked
out upon the stage amid tremendous
applause, bowed to the audience. raiset
his baton and in a moment the grea
orchestra was In full swing and III,
} twenty-sixth national saengerfcst hat
begun Tia career OF melody Governo
Morehead and his military staff occu
: pied boxes. So did Mayor Dahlman ant
other distinguished citizens. In the boxei
and ON the main floor were many so
eiety people. In fact II was repre-
sentative audience Of all the people.
The stage was a beautiful sight. Th'
local choruses were beautifully disposes
on the seats rising In tiers back from
the orchestra. The men In their darI
clothes seated IN the center were y
placed that they formed the figure o.
Tyre IN contrast with the ladies. wh'
we're all In white and wearing roseS
At the top OF the stage was a grea
Tyre made up OF electric lights.
The entire Auditorium was nag-deckes
from the fronts OF the boxes to the yer,
top OF the lofty ceiling. Besides thes'
I there were wreaths OF oak leaves hum
a about the boxes and the sides OF the bal
J. cony. The 'front.' OF the stage was banke,
: with palms and ferns. To the RICH
! and left OF the stage at the helght o
: the balcony were the banners OF tn
n various sanger associations represented
Handsome souvenir programs of flft!
1 pages were provided. printed In severa
oolofs. containing pictures OF the prin
clpal artists. directors OF the saenger
fest, views OF the city. all done IN sew
/, eral colors and free from q single nd
vertisement.
The 'sangerfest March," composed b,
!. Prof. Reese and dedicated to Fest-Prssi
{ dent Robert c. strehlow. was the open
. Ing number. Then came an inspirin
y Chorus Of Greeting" first by the me
Y OF the festival chorus and then by IN
9 feminine voices.
Addresses OF welcome.
Leo Hoffman. president OF the Oman
saengerfest association. introduced FEST
President strehlow. who delivered a shoI
address. first m German and then l
Ne English. which was enthusiastically n
N eeived. He compared this great festive
e. Of music which Il now occupying IN
DO attention OF Omaha and the great wei
ID with the activities. which are occupyin
d. the attention OF Europe al present
ID ours is a mission Of peace" he sal
D. the cultivation OF the most beautiful {
arts. the art Of music"
TheodOr @. Behrens. president OF n
saengerbund OF the Northwest. was n
r troduced. and the handsome bann.
which had been brought nom S. Pau
"a the lAst saengerfest city. was brought Z
- the stage. President Behrens receive
~ and presented Il 10 Mr. strehlow I
president Of the Omaha association.
hts speech he recalled the fact that an
n. banner WAS presented to the Omaha a
ISOLATION just five years ago. The bal
ner ls kept BY the saengerfest city du
ing the two years following liz reoeI
nd ton
Il. Mayor Dahlman spoke a hearty w
2 come 70 Omaha for all attending q