• LEWENGLY, Z: director of ensemble

The Tagesprogramm of daily social events published in the supplement to the newspaper Bohemia dated 14/1/1863 noted: ‘Evening 8 o’clock in the Žofín Island Hall: Society Ball [Vereinsball].’ This annual event, given in aid of the Private Society for the Support of the Prague Poor House, was an annual feature of the Prague Carnival season.

A substantial review of this event was published by Prager Morgenpost 16/1/1863. The correspondent reported: ‘Society Ball. [Vereinsball] As it has done for a number of years, this year again the Society Ball served in this years Carnival as the herald announcing, in a variety of ways, the arrival of the jovial Princes’ Carnival [Prinzen Karneval – perhaps referring to the more select social events of the Prague Carnival season comprising the major (often masked) public balls]. Large numbers of admirers of the noble art of the dance hearkened to the inviting tones of this herald, such that the night before last in the Halls of Žofín Island a large number of elegant ladies and gentlemen gathered to give the Carnival a truly festive reception. The Žofín Island Halls were tastefully and elegantly decorated for this ball festival. The Great Hall was draped in brilliant white, to which the green of artificial ivy clung. The niches were filled with bouquets of flowers and in the central niches were positioned busts of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress. Angel figures holding fresh flowers stood on the mantelpieces. The small hall was rather more colourfully decorated. Artificial flowers had been arranged as decorations on the walls, and the niches contained allegorical figures. The number of guests at the ball was substantial, yet those keen to dance were able to satisfy their pleasure unhindered and to follow the inviting call sent out by the excellent military band. Many representatives of the nobility were present. The Counts Harrach, Černin and Wolkenstein, the Princes Thurn-Taxis, Count Thun and many more were to be seen. His Excellency the Vice-President Governor of the City, Baron Kellersperg and His Excellency the District Commander and General of the Cavalry, Count Clam-Gallas, also graced the festival with their presence. The ladies’ toilette was mostly as tasteful as it was rich. The men were entirely in black evening dress. To briefly mention the dance programme, let it suffice to say that this was as cosmopolitan as it always is and gave equal rights to both the Bohemian polka and the German waltz, and that the quadrilles also claimed their rightfully deserved rank. The atmosphere of dance continued into the early morning.’

The same issue of Prager Morgenpost 16/1/1863 also reported that ‘The organising committee of the society ball presented the Kapellmeister of the military band that executed the dance pieces at the ball, Herr Lewengli [Lewengly], with a tastefully decorated baton in recognition of his services.’