History of our Chorus - Page 5

In 1968 the chorus flew to Stuttgart, where it again took part in the Nationales Sängerfest. During this trip concerts were presented in Weinheim, Mainz, Lohr, and Königswinter. Through arrangements made by MGC Gemütlichkeit, the chorus also visited the grave of former Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and sang the beautiful and moving, "Sanctus". Afterward a pleasant evening was spent with the host chorus.

In the twenty years beginning with the 1951 flight to Germany, the RSB arranged many large, relatively inexpensive, charter flights, available only to members. As membership grew, especially among the passive members, Rheinischer flights to Germany comprised as many as 5 planes. These were enormous undertakings and the profits from the revenues helped to fill the coffers of the RSB. It was this "boom" period which financed much of the succeeding years' activities.

1971 saw the most ambitious concert tour of Germany: six concerts in seven days! The trip included getting together with the Erler Kinderchor in Gelsenkirchen as well as performances in Essen, Hadamar, Königswinter and Bad Honnef. The conclusion of the trip was a concert presented at the American embassy in Bonn on the Fourth of July. The highlight of that memorable program was the glorious "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

The year 1972 marked the 125th Anniversary of the RSB, and the concert on November 4th was its high point. This cultural achievement was presented in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and the sold-out performance featured Sandor Konya, the leading tenor of the Metropolitan Opera. Thoughtfully planned and well organized, the concert in the superb acoustics of the halls was a spectacular success. Dirigent Alfred Heberer led the chorus masterfully and Konzert Fest Präsident Fred Hoefer, Sr., and his colleagues did a splendid job of arranging this most memorable event. It was all the more special because the Rheinischer was the first German-American chorus ever to present a concert in the Alice Tully Hall.

Over the years, the annual concert has traditionally been the highlight of the year. It has always been a gala affair, with the chorus in black tie, accompanied by an orchestra. Preceded by a cocktail reception, a well-rehearsed concert has been given every
autumn to very appreciative (and appreciated) audiences. Those who attend enjoy a convivial evening of music and dancing. Following the 125th Anniversary, annual concerts continued to be presented in New York: at the Statler Hilton in 1973 and at the Hotel Roosevelt during 1974-77. In 1978 the site of the concert was moved across the Hudson, first to the Palisadium, and in the next year, to the Meadowlands Hilton. Mainly because of its better acoustics, the Three Saints Cultural Center in nearby Garfield, NJ was chosen in 1980 and has remained the preferred concert hall ever since.