• Estates Theatre orchestra: participating institution
• TAUWITZ, Eduard: director of ensemble

Prager Morgenpost first reported news of this event in its issue dated 16/2/1863, relating that ‘The Concert for the Benefit of the Foundation for Free Meals for Law Students [Das Konzert yum Besten der Juristen-Freitisch-Stiftung] will take place on 23rd February in the Hall of the Žofín Island. Miss Kirchner [Kirchnerová] (violinist), Miss Zawiszanka and Mr Rokitansky [Rokytanský] have pledged their participation. Also Lachner’s Symphony „The Suite“ [die Suite] (new) will be performed. Before long we will publish the full programme.’ In the same issue of this newspaper a report appeared that: ‘A young female singer, under the pseudonym Miss Norden, gifted with a remarkable mezzosoprano [Stimmmitteln] voice, will for a time sojourn in Prague, where she will give her debut in the Theatre.’ The source related too that she would participate in the concert for the benefit of free meals for students. Exactly which students was not specified. In the event, the benefit concert for the Law Student’s took place on Sunday 22nd February. The singer ‘Miss Norden’ did not appear in that event, the soloists all being well-established local performers.

More detailed information for this concert was published by Prager Morgenpost 20/2/1863. The report noted: ‘The Programme for concert arranged for the Benefit of the Law Student’s Free Meals Foundation [Juristen-Freitisch-Stiftung] under the protection of His Eminence the Cardinal-Archbishop, which takes place on 22nd February at 12 noon in the Žofín Island Hall, contains the following numbers: 1. Overture to the opera „Medea“ of Cherubini. 2. Aria from the „Schöpfung“ by Haydn, performed by Mr Rokitansky. 3. VII Concerto for violin of Rhode [Rode], perf. by Miss Kirchner [Kirchnerová]. 4. Aria from „Oberon“ by C.M. von Weber, performed by Miss Brenner [Brennerová]. 5. Declamaton, performed by Miss Gebhardt. 6. „Wiegenlied“ for violin and piano by H. Reber, perf. by Miss Kirchner [Kirchnerová]. 7. Aria from „Acis und Galathée“ by Händel, performed by Mr Rokitansky. 8. „Suite“ in 4 movements: a. Präludien, b. Menuett, c. Variations and March, d. Introduction and Fugue, for orchestra by Franz Lachner.’ This same information was published in an almost identical text published by Bohemia 20/2/1863.

Národní listy 21/2/1863 also published detailed advance information concerning this concert and its programme. The newspaper reported: ‘Concert to benefit the fund for free meals for law students will take place tomorrow 22nd February at 12 noon in Žofín Hall. Programme is the following (incidentally, it must be said, entirely German): 1. Overture to opera „Medea“ of Cherubini. 2. Aria from the „Stvoření“ [Die Schöpfung] by Haydn, performed by Mr Rokytanský. 3. III. Concerto for violin of Rhode [Rode], perf. by Miss Kirchnerová. 4. Aria from „Oberon“ by C.M. von Weber, performed by Miss Brennerová. 5. Declamaton, performed by Miss Gebhardt. 6. „Ukolébavka“ [Wiegenlied] for violin and piano by H. Reber, perf. by Miss Kirchnerová]. 7. Aria from „Acis a Galathée“ by Händel, performed by Mr Rokytanský. 8. „Suite“ in 4 movements: a. Praeludia, b. Menuetto, c. Variations and March, d. Introduction and Fugue, for orchestra by F. Lachner.’ The designation of Rode’s Concerto being ‘III’ is assumed to be an error on the part of Národní listy given that both Bohemia and Prager Morgenpost specified the work as being‘ VII’.

An unsigned review of this concert was published by Prager Morgenpost 25/2/1863. The critic wrote: ‘Concert. This year’s musical season was opened on Sunday with a concert taking place in the Žofín Island Hall for the Benefit of the Foundation for Free Meals for Poor Law Students, in the presence of an extraordinarily numerous audience. Of instrumental works came therein for performance Cherubini’s Overture to the opera „Medea“ and a Suite in four movements by Lachner. Mr Rokitansky sang an aria from the oratorio „Die Schöpfung“ by Haydn. The performance was beautiful, but sometimes it was too intensely [‘zu stark’ – intense, strong, powerful, heavy] performed as we would find with the majority of current opera singers. Incidentally, in the programme Mr Rokitansky sang in addition an aria from „Acis und Galathée“ by Händel. The number was cast in a very sternly religious manner: to this Mr Rokitansky was very well disposed... Very interesting was the performance of Miss Kirchner, whose elegant playing is sufficiently well-known from earlier productions. The young artiste offered a Concerto by Rhode [Rode] and a Wiegenlied by Weber (with piano accompaniment], the latter of which had to be encored. Miss Brenner sang the great aris of „Rhezia“ from Weber’s „Oberon“ entirely accurately but without any dramatic fire. The obbligatory declamation was undertaken by Miss Gebhardt. The aforementioned participants received universal applause for their performances. The orchestra was made up of members of the [German] Estates Theatre and played magnificently under the artistic direction of the Kapellmeister Mr Tauwitz.’