The Musikverein was an Indianapolis musical society that included a sixty-piece orchestra, a men's chorus, and a mixed chorus. When the Socialer Turnverein began constructing a new building for themselves, they also wanted to sponsor a singing society. When they offered space in their new German House (Das Deutsche Haus) to the Maennerchor, however, that society turned them down. As a result, the Musikverein was created in 1897 as the resident musical society of The German House. Its first director was Alexander Ernestinoff. The Musikverein performed German folk music as well as light operas (The Mikado, The Chimes of Normandy) and excerpts from larger operas.