• Estates Theatre orchestra: participating orchestra
• Provisional Theatre orchestra: participating orchestra
• WAGNER, Richard: director of ensemble, conductor

Initial news of Wagner’s intention to give a concert in Prague in the autumn of 1863 was published by the German-language newspaper Prager Morgenpost on 15/10/1863 in a brief item of news relating: ‘Richard Wagner is to arrange a concert here in the course of November’. The source speculated too on whether he might conduct one of his operas too. The following day, 16/10/1863, Prager Morgenpost reported that Wagner was intending to perform in the concert he was arranging in Prague his composition „Wallkürenritt“ [Ride of the Valyries].

The first detailed news of the concert given in Prague by Richard Wagner on 5/11/1863 first published by the German-language newspaper Prager Morgenpost 3/11/1863 appeared in a report relating: ‘Programme to the great Musical entertainment, which takes place on Thursday 5th November at 4.30pm under Richard Wagner’s personal direction in the Žofín Island Hall: 1) Prelude to „Lohengrin“ 2) a) Assembly of the Meistersinger b) Pegner’s [Pogner] Address. 3) Cobbler’s song [Schusterlied] of Hans Sachs (new) sung by Mr Rokitanský. 4) Prelude to Die Meistersingers. 5) a) Prelude, and b) Transfiguration [Schlußfaß] (new) from „Tristan und Isolde“. 6) Siegmund’s Love song, sung by Mr Bernard. 7) Ride of the Valkyrie (new). 8) Siegfried’s Forging songs [Schmiedelieders] sung by Mr Bachmann. a) Smelting song [Schmelzlied] (new). b) Hämmerlied (new).’ This issue of Prager Morgenpost also reported that a performance [in the Estates Theatre] would be given that day (3/11/1863) of the opera Der fliegende Holländer. Apparently Lohengrin was to have been performed on that occasion but the programme was changed owing to the hoarseness of Mr Bachmann.

News of the first rehearsal to this concert was published by Prager Morgenpost 4/11/1863. The source reported: ‘Concert rehearsal. Yesterday occurred in the Žofín Island Hall the first rehearsal to the great Concert of Richard Wagner – which takes place on Thursday under the composer’s personal direction – in the presence of a number of Friends of Art [Kunstfreunden], who were allowed entry if in possession of an admission ticket. Time was too short for all numbers of the great programme to be conducted, so that a rehearsal will take place today at 10am. Mr Bachmann found particular favour with the great Tonepoet on this occasion, after his performance of the  Hammer- and Smelting Songs of Siegfried gaining words of the most flattering approval.’ The rehearsal was thus directed by Wagner himself.