Prague Concert Life, 1850-1881

Event title:

Second and final Summer assembly [Sommer-Assemblé]

Venue: Hraba's Restaurant (Garden restaurant)

Event type: Popular social musical and dance events

Date: 09/09/1850 pm (evening)

Season: Summer

Programme including:

General participants:
  • ensemble of Infantry Regiment of Baron von Wimpffen: participating ensemble
  • unspecified male vv: participating ensemble
WHIT, Emil : polka Erinnerung an Lucile Grahu, orch
WHIT, Emil : potpourri Slawische Liedertraum, orch

Commentary:

Advance information about this event was published in a report appearing in Bohemia 1/9/1850. This related that Mr Hraba ‘in his elegantly furnished venue (formerly Neureutter’s Garden) behind the New Gate on Tuesday 3rd September organizes the second and last Sommer-Assemblé’. Performing music would be the ensemble of the Infantry Regiment of Baron von Wimpffen, alternating with male-voice quartets [the vocal ensemble was not specified]. The garden would be decorated and lit, and visiting ladies would be presented with a piano arrangement of a polka, Erinerung an Lucile Grahu. The composer of the polka was not reported, and the title was mis-spelt [Erinerung should read ‘Erinnerung’]. Miss Grahu was a visiting foreign dancer who had recently been appearing with great success in the Estates Theatre.

The Tagesanzeiger text of Bohemia 3/9/1850 noted that on Tuesday 3rd September ‘Im Hraba’schen Garten: Sommer-Assemblee’. However, the event ultimately did not occur on that day, perhaps owing to unfavourable weather. A report appeared in the Lokalzeitung section of Bohemia 8/9/1850 announcing that the ‘Assemblée’ would instead take place ‘tomorrow 9th Sept. More details of the occasion were then given. The polka in piano arrangement, this time correctly spelt Erinnerung an Lucile Grahu, to be presented to attending ladies had been specially composed for this ‘festival’ by ‘Kapellmeister Whyt [Whit]’. The correspondent opined that the event ‘promises to be very interesting’ on account of the participation of the ‘favourite orchestra von Wimpffen’. At the end of the entertainment a newly assembled Potpourri Slawischer Liedertraum by Whit would be performed. The garden would be decorated and brilliantly lit, and at the onset of twilight a vocal quartet sung. If the weather was unfavourable the event would take place on the following day. The Tagesanzeiger of Bohemia 8/9/1850 listed the ‘Sommerassemblée’ as being given on 9th September.


Summary of sources:

Bohemia, ein Unterhaltungsblatt (01/09/1850)
Bohemia, ein Unterhaltungsblatt (03/09/1850)
Bohemia, ein Unterhaltungsblatt (08/09/1850)
Bohemia, ein Unterhaltungsblatt (08/09/1850)