Venue(s):
Academy of Music
Price: $5.00 for a gentleman and one lady; $2 each extra ladies’ tickets
Event Type:
Band, Orchestral
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
19 October 2011
“Although the sale of tickets for the Liederkranz ball, last night, was suspended before the demand was supplied, the attendance was fully as large as at the Arion ball, and the same difficulty was felt in finding room to dance or promenade. The balcony, dress circle and upper tier were all crowded with spectators, generally in full dress, while the floor of the house was occupied by an immense mass of maskers and others, probably three-fourths of the number in fancy dress. Some of the costumes were rich and superb, and many more were highly grotesque. There were probably a dozen harlequins; several warriors in mail, a coiffure ‘à la coffee pot, which excited much amusement; a walking barrel; and hundreds of other amusing disguises. Among the ladies, one arrayed in the garb of a Chinese lady of rank attracted much attention; and another, as the page in the ‘Ballo in Maschera,’ was actually followed around the room by troops of admirers. A Queen of Night, Mephistopheles and Marguerite were among the characters represented.
Among the special features of the evening there was a grotesque procession of Amazon guards, clowns, and devices representing different city newspapers. Quack doctors took part in another procession and a large frog and stork, represented by members of the Liederkranz on stilts, were conspicuous.
One of the most extraordinary performances of the evening, however, was a leap made from the family circle down into a blanket held by members of the society on the floor of the house. The leaper was a handsome, well-formed and intrepid harlequin, and he sprang from his lofty perch with perfect grace, landing on his feet in the outspread blanket. The guests in the immediate vicinity were somewhat fearful lest the bold harlequin would fall on their heads, and ‘Room for the leaper! Room!’ was afforded with great alacrity.
The interior and police arrangements were in every respect satisfactory, and the whole affair reflects the greatest credit on Mr. Nembach and the other gentlemen of the Liederkranz who took an active part in the management of this, the most brilliant masked ball ever given in New York.