The Meran Marksmen's Festival and the Concert by Joseph Netzer

Austrian Monarchy.

Meran, 27 May. (Corresp.) While preparations were being made for the great marksmen's festival, the musical artist Joseph Netzer arrived in Meran. He allowed his friends to persuade him to give a concert during the shooting festival. Mr. Netzer arrived at the opening of the shooting and kept his word. The news that the concert was to be performed solely by Tyrolean talent met with general approval, in accord with the declared view of the Archduke, who wished to see only Tyroleans and Vorarlbergers invited to his festival. Thus, the purely Tyrolean character of the celebration was preserved.

The audience came to know and value Mr. Netzer as an outstanding composer, as a prudent, untiring conductor of the orchestra who knew how to make skillful use of the available forces, and even as a performing artist on the pianoforte accompanying the vocal pieces.

The performing musicians met Mr. Netzer with great willingness, making sacrifices of both time and effort. Messrs. Eberle and Rapp from Kaltern, Knoblach, Kapeller, and Rungaldier from Bozen gladly accepted the invitation of their famous compatriot. Word of these concert preparations spread everywhere and attracted a large audience, especially from Bozen. Mr. Jordan's concert hall was crowded to capacity. Archduke Johann honoured the concert with his presence and was received with a loud cheer. Except for three, the pieces performed were compositions of the concert host.

The Marksmen's Joys by Gänsbacher, two songs rendered by Mrs. Lentner, a solo for the violin by Kreuzer performed by Mr. Glanzl, Harkon's Song sung by Mr. Schwab, the "Little Ring," a duet sung by Miss Blanka v. Gasteiger and Mrs. Lentner, and finally the overture to the drama Isfendiar formed the first part. The second part opened with Beethoven's overture to Prometheus, followed by three songs—Song from Afar, The Boatwoman, and The Farewell—sung partly by Miss Blanka v. Gasteiger and partly by Mrs. Lentner.

Professor Peter Wiesler and Gustav Schwab performed Lore-Ley. Mr. Kostner played the clarinet part in this duet. A concert overture in E-flat concluded the series of pieces.

His Imperial Highness Archduke Johann expressed his satisfaction in very friendly words to Director Netzer. The entire assembly paid ringing applause to the concert.

In the vocal parts we heard many a fine voice. Mr. Gustav Schwab possesses something beyond mere good training; his voice is expansive, powerful, mellow, and pleasing, ringing from the chest like the full chime of a bell. For ladies, the temptation is perilous to serve favour rather than art, forfeiting unadorned naturalness in the pursuit of applause. The vocal gift of Miss Blanka v. Gasteiger is still uncorrupted by this affectation; the songs she delivered with resonant voice flowed from an unassuming soul and took on enchanting charm, as for instance the song "The Farewell." Mrs. Lentner's lovely alto voice was especially appealing in the deeper registers. — As we hear, Mr. Netzer will also arrange a concert in Bozen.

— Yesterday evening the marksmen from Dornbirn were introduced by Dr. Lentner. This morning a company of marksmen from the Puster Valley made their entry. Dr. Theiner, whose duty it was to receive this company, avoided rehashing old platitudes and imparted fresh life to his address through references to the experiences of the Puster Valley men during the war years. — "Upon the ridge of our shooting stand stands the motto of the undefeated Tyrolean: For God, Emperor, and Fatherland! Men of the Puster Valley! Like every genuine, staunch Tyrolean, you are fully entitled to bear this motto on your lips. Whether we traverse your valley from one end to the other, from the Mühlbach to the Lienz Gorge, or whether we inquire of past and present times concerning you, we find everywhere just as many traces of your valor as there were enemies setting foot on the soil of the Puster Valley. You drew this enthusiasm and courage in the face of death from the one true source, the Church of the Holy Cross on the Frohnwiese near St. Lorenzen. The years 1797, 1809, and 1813 at the Mühlbach Gorge prove that your courage, fortified and elevated through prayer, was no mere flash in the pan. The further down we journey into the Puster Valley, the more victorious was the feather of defiance you planted upon your hat, which the strangers never tore from your proud headgear. General Joubert had to turn back in 1797 before reaching the heights of the Toblach field. General Ruska met no better fate when in 1809 he sought to bring the chains of his master upon the free and faithful Tyroleans. A handful of Sexten marksmen stood at the Lienz Gorge, slew 700 of his men, and showed him the way: he returned with reinforced numbers, overpowered you, and forced you aside; yet just as the waves close behind a ship, so the marksmen joined hands once more and cut off the retreat of the enemy army under Broussier, so that he could move neither forward nor backward. The enemy had few wounded to care for in those days, for your bullets grazed few, striking straight into the hearts of the foes. You know the proverb: The apple does not fall far from the tree. Thus I behold in you the noble sons of brave, valiant fathers. As they shot into the heart of the enemy, so go forth and be no lesser; shoot into the black, into the center, so that the old may rejoice in the young. Good luck upon this marksmen's contest!"

As we learn, the Puster Valley marksmen were well pleased with this speech, to which they had every right.

The number of registered marksmen exceeds 1,500. A mighty surge and throng of marksmen in the most colourful regional costumes moves through the spacious halls of the shooting stand, demonstrating the martial strength of the people. — No disorder and not the slightest disturbance has so far marred the heavily attended shooting festival. The Tyroleans feel somewhat offended and annoyed that the new security guard appears everywhere, along every path and alley, intervening where there is nothing to do and arranging order where none is needed. Meanwhile, the people are sensible and allow themselves to be ordered about as though standing in the regular line. — It delighted all the marksmen when an Italian, whose two bullseye shots entitled him to a tiebreak shot, hit the center on the wreath target. — Incidentally, the festival has healed many old wounds between South and North Tyrol, reconciling and uniting much that was divided.

Meran, 28 May. Yesterday evening at 7 o'clock the cash desk closed for the main stakes. The lists recorded 1,563 marksmen. Since the previously fixed deadline does not suffice for this large number of entries, the shooting has been extended until Saturday, 31 May. Along with this announcement, the letter from Field Marshal Radetzky was read out, in which he excuses himself on account of pressing duties from attending the marksmen's festival in Meran. Following this opening, the last 4 Radetzky shots were auctioned off for the benefit of the veterans' disability fund. The first was purchased by the Countess of Meran for 15 fl. CM, the second by Mr. Ganahl of Feldkirch for 14 fl. CM, the third by Mr. Vital of the Puster Valley for 10 fl. CM, and the fourth by Mr. Friederich of Hopfgarten for 8 fl. 30 kr. CM.

For the past few days shooting has begun at 6 o'clock in the morning and continues without pause. On the main stands alone, 300 target rifles were set up simultaneously today.