Reception Festivities in honor of Franz Abt

“The reception festivities in honor of Franz Abt, the distinguished German composer, who arrived here on Saturday night in the steamer Rhein, came off at the Germania Assembly Rooms last night, under the auspices of the New-York Allgemeine Saengerbund, and other German musical societies. Ample preparations had been made, but as the reception had to come off last night, Mr. Abt being obliged to go to Washington this morning, the torch-light procession and the serenade had to be omitted. The reception was therefore confined to a concert by the Saengerbund, and the festivities called in German ‘commers.’ Previous to the reception, the composer attended the concert of the Liederkranz, whose guest he is at the Belvedere House. The officers of the Saengerbund waited upon him at Liederkranz Hall, and escorted him to the Germania Assembly Rooms, where he was received with enthusiasm, the vocalists of the Saengerbund Societies chanting several of Abt’s compositions.” [A one-paragraph biographical sketch of the composer follows.]