• Prague Men's Singing Society [Prager Männergesangsverein]: participating institution, vv

Prager Morgenpost 25/1/1863 published details of this forthcoming event, noting: ‘Männergesangverein. In the Žofín Island Hall on 30th January at 8pm takes place an evening entertainment [Abend-Unterhaltung] of the aforesaid choir performing: 1. Psalm: „Herr unser Gott, wie groß nist Du!“ by Schnabel; 2. „Vineta“ by F. Abt; 3. „Tři jezdci“ [Three riders], dedicated to the Mens Singing Society by Ludwig Procháska; 4. „Das deutsche Lied“; 5. „Težké orani“ [Těžké orání - Heavy ploughing] by E. Waschak [Vašák]; 6. „Gut’ Nacht“ by Tauwitz; 7. „Povzbuzeni k zpěvu“ [Encouragement to song], by Ferd. Podhorsky; 8. „Liedesweihe“ by F.A. Vogl.’

A substantial, unsigned review of this concert was published by Prager Morgenpost 2/2/1863. The correspondent began by pointedly drawing attention to the Männgergesangverein constituting an accomplished body of singers focussed upon performing both artistically and effectively. On this particular occasion the singing was thought to have been especially excellent in that the well-proficient forces performed all pieces with equal artistry, ‘the nationality of the composer or the writer of the text made no difference... The programme of the said Soirée on 30th January commenced with a good, but less originally conceived Psalm by Schnabel. Thereafter followed two Czech choruses: „Tři jezdci“ [Three riders] by Prochaska [Procházka] – a successful composition – and „Zastaveničko“ [Serenade], a grateful ensemble by J. Knahl. Of particular interest to us was the work by Franz Abt (Court Kapellmeister in Brunswick) much vaunted at the German Singing Festival here, „Vineta“ to a poem by Jos. Seiler. Here the veteran, expert tone-poet makes no misjudgements; the contrasts of the major and then the minor keys of the tonic G are really so efficacious that we cannot hear this beautiful composition too often. Next in the programme came Vogl’s freshly spirited chorus „Liedesweihe“, poem by Ludwig Fritz. Following, after the pleasant intermission of the Paraphrase from „Lucia“ by Liszt played by Mr Zweigelt on the piano, we heard Kalliwoda’s magnificent „Deutsche Lied“. Then was a pretty Czech chorus „Těžké orání“ [Heavy ploughing] by Em. Vašak [Vašák], and a Lied for tenor performed by Dr Tragy. As the penultimate number came the charming [liebliche] composition „Gut’ Nacht“ [Good Night] by Tauwitz, which on general demand had to be encored, and to close a robust chorus „Povzbuzeni k zpěvu“ [Encouragement to song] by Podhorsky, which also was repeated. The refined and numerous public had, in complete agreement with the unbiased aims of the Society as noted above, for all items of the programme an equal approbation. Messrs Tauwitz and Vogl were engaged alternately in the direction of the choir.’

The remarkably neutral and patriotically unbiased review by the Prager Morgenpost correspondent effectively put forward the impression that the Männgersangverein was a nationalistically unbiased institution balancing both Czech and German content in its programmes and activity. This provides vivid insight into the character, purpose and outlook of that choral society. At a time when much of the Prague musical environment was polarizing into factions of either Czech or German orientation, the Männgersangverein seemingly tried to steer a middle ground. Assuming that the reporting of Prager Morgenpost was accurate and unbiased, its description of the society demonstrated liberal, open-minded elements at work in the city’s social, political and cultural life. The reporting of the newspaper itself in this respect offers an insight into its own patriotic and political stance, as well as an a idea of the readership it was aimed at.

A review, signed ‘M.’, of the concert was published by Prager Morgenpost’s sister German-language paper Politik 1/2/1863. The correspondent reported: ‘Music. The „Prager Männergesangsverein“ under the artistic directorship of the respected Kapellmeister Mr Tauwitz gave an evening of entertainment in the Hall of the Žofín Island two days ago, in the manner of a concert, at which both nationalities were given equal weighting. We heard five vocal compositions with Bohemian texts and an equal number with German, and a piano piece. The sequence of the former began with the characteristic chorus „Tři jezdci“ by L. Procházka with its interesting voice writing, followed by the attractive „Zastaveníčko“ by J. Knahl. Particularly captivating was the folk-style chorus „Těžké orání“ by Vašák; in the dextrously-composed song by J. Tragy that followed it, Mr Peták revealed his attractive tenor to great advantage; the final chorus „Povzbuzení k zpěvu“ by F. Podhorský was also well received. The German works consisted of the Psalm by Schnabel, with which the concert opened, then F. Abt’s arrangement of the poem „Vineta“ by J. Seiler (whose subject is the demise of the old Wendish city, engulfed by the floods of the Baltic Sea) with beautiful harmonic effects, next a fresh and lively chorus „Liedesweihe“ by F.A. Vogl which was followed, after a brilliant performance on the piano by a Society member of Liszt’s „Lucia Fantasy“ [Fantasie on themes from Lucia di Lammermoor], by the well-known „Deutsches Lied“, celebrated today by every choral society in Germany and composed by Kalliwoda (our compatriot and a graduate of the Prague Conservatory); finally came the gently rendered chorus „Gute Nacht“ by Tauwitz. The choral works were performed by the well-trained Society members with exceptional precision and attention to nuances; the same may be said of the two conductors, Messrs Tauwitz and Vogl. The large audience expressed its satisfaction with enthusiastic applause.

Interestingly, this event received no coverage by the patriotically biased Czech-language periodicals Národní listy, Dalibor and Lumír.