A tune called “Minnesota Cadet Lancers” was written by Lawrence Schaich in 1883.  The tune was “Respectfully Dedicated to Gov. L.P. Hubbard, St. Paul, Minn.”  What’s interesting is that the second page has “figures in full for dancing,” as taught by Prof. R.H. Evans at his academy, Sherman hall, St. Paul.

Above and below: Minnesota Historical Society

The Grand Opera House celebrated its opening all through the week of April 2, 1883.  Musicians included:

• Theodore Thomas’s Orchestra
• Minnie Hauk
• Marie Litta
• The Amherst Glee Club
• The Oberlin Glee Club
• And to furnish  lighter entertainment, the Chicago Church Choir Opera company in “Pinafore,” “Chimes of Normandy, and “Patience.”

The audiences were overjoyed with Thomas, but felt that both Hauk and Litta would have been more effective in genuine opera, than in a concert version of it.  Minnie Hauk, who was known to b more or less temperamental, lived up to her reputation by exhibiting certain wilful eccentricitities.  As the chorus was ready to sing the finale of the first act of “Lohengrin,” she suddenly walked off the stage, leaving them quite nonplussed.  The next evening she dismissed the orchestra and sang with piano accompaniment, because they could not transpose the parts one note for her.  (Minneapolis Tribune, February 10, 1935)