Grand chorus of male voices from united singing societies; inauguration continued on Monday, the next day.

“A grand opening concert at the Jones’ Wood Colosseum yesterday, in which the Saengerbund societies, about fourteen in number, and half a dozen other German vocal and musical organizations assisted, attracted large crowds of visitors to the festival grounds. The affair was under the direction of Carl Bergmann, and the pieces were rendered by an immense chorus, composed of several hundred vocalists, accompanied by an orchestra composed of the musicians of the Ninth Regiment Band. For the concert in the afternoon a programme of about a dozen pieces had been prepared, including many of the choicest German compositions, vocal and instrumental. The Colosseum and Belvidere buildings were decorated with a profusion of flags and banners, and drapery of a great variety of colors, and in the evening the festivities were wound up by an illumination.”

Preceded by a general description of the event. “…and when the popular conductor of the celebrated Ninth Regiment Band, Colonel D. L. Downing, appeared amid the brilliant uniforms of his band, he received a flattering welcome. The forenoon programme was well selected, and proved a trying test of the qualities of the band, which they stood unflinchingly—Flotow’s melodious overture to ‘Alessandro Stradella,’ a sparkling Strauss waltz, ‘Vienna Blood,’ the immortal quartet in ‘Rigoletto,’ the solemn chant of the pilgrims in ‘Tannhaeuser,’ a bouquet of rare melodic flowers from the chef d’oeuvre of French operas, ‘La Juive,’ and a potpourri of national dances.

But the afternoon programme was of unusual attractiveness even in a city like ours, where music is so often heard in its brightest and grandest form. It is worth giving in its entirety [see above], premising that the executants consisted of the Ninth Regiment Band, under Downing, and an orchestra under Bergmann’s direction, with a chorus of 300 singers selected from several German societies.

The second part of this programme was the most interesting on account of the union of all the musical elements. It was a happy thought to give the ‘Torchlight Dance’ with such complete effect. This is the work written by Meyerbeer on the occasion of the marriage of the Crown Prince of Prussia to the Princess Royal of England. It was given with remarkable power and effect, the voices and instruments vying with each other to make the performance a success. Although such a combination, à la Sangerfest, cannot be admired in a musical and aesthetical point of view, still, the crowds assembled were delighted, and the evidences of careful rehearsals were perceptible. From beginning to end the festival was very enjoyable, and Mr. Schultheiss, the manager, and Mr. S. Morrissey, his representative, deserve a word of praise for the success which attended the opening of the Jones Wood Colosseum.”