• Estates Theatre orchestra: participating orchestra, orch
• TAUWITZ, Eduard: director of ensemble, conductor
• MILDNER, Mořic: leader of orchestra, vl

News of this forthcoming Academy was published by Prager Zeitung 30/11/1859, which reported that ‘For the benefit of the scientific Reading-Society of German Students will take place on 4th December at 12 noon in the Sophieninselsaale a musical Academy.’ A review of the event, signed ‘!!’, appeared in the newspaper on 6/12/1859.

After noting the date, time and venue for this benefit production, Bohemia 2/12/1859 published a detailed list of the programme in performance order. Although the event was described as a ‘Musikalisch-declamatorischen Akademie’, only one declamation was given in the course of the programme. This followed the opening overture and consisted of Miss Augusta Burggraf reciting Schiller’s poem Der Taucher. After listing the programme the Bohemia text listed the participants, including Tauwitz and Mildner , respectively the conductor and leader of the Estates Theatre orchestra, and that the orchestra was performing at this event courtesy of the Theatre director F. Thomé. The report concluded by relating that admission cost 2fl for the circle, 1fl for the Hall, and 60kr for the gallery. Tickets were available from the apothecary H. Proskowetz, from the music shops of Christoph and Kuhé, Robert Veit, and Schalek [Šálek], from the bookshop of Mr Scheib in the Malá strana, or on the day at the box office. The Tageskalender of Bohemia 4/12/1859 specified the venue and time of the event. A review, signed ‘V.’, was published by Bohemia 5/12/1859. Prager Morgenpost 6/12/1859 also published a review, signed ‘**’, but did not announce the concert in any earlier issue.

The Dalibor 10/12/1859 review did not specify a date or venue for this concert. No previous issue of the periodical reported upon the occasion. Although the periodical’s correspondent praised various aspects of the event, in particular the playing of Miss Vrabély, the review was also very critical. ‘In spite of the gaudy and mendacious programme the Academy had a favourable success. The opening item was the Overture to “Braut von Messina” which was accurately performed under the leadership of the music director Tauwitz. After that Miss Burgraffova gave a very dignified performance of Schiller’s poem “Der Taucher”, although we did not agree with her interpretation. In place of an aria from Mozart’s “Figarovy svatby” [Le nozze di Figaro] Miss Prauseova [Kainz-Prausová] sang an aria by Auber from the opera “Přísaha” [Le Serment] and with Miss Míkova a duet from “Figarovy svatby” to great applause. The playing of Miss B. Holasova, who recently we have heard in the [local] inns, pleasantly surprised us, she progresses very successfully on the violin. She played a fantasie for violin by her teacher Mr Weber resolutely and with bravura; the only misfortune being her unsatisfactory instrument and the lacklustre composition with little opportunity for expression. Mr Eilers sang very expressively the song “Der Soldat” by music director Jahn, and “Blumenlied” by J. Slánský [Ludevít Slanský]. The first song is a pretty, characteristic and effective work; the second is too sentimental and reminiscent of the songs of Proch. The laurels of the concert without doubt lie with Miss Serafína z Vrabély, pianist and pupil of Dreyschock. Performing a “Nocturne” by Field (no.4) she demonstrated subtlety and sophistication, in the “gavotte” of Seb. Bach resilience and strength, and in the saltorello [Saltarella] of Dreyschock elegance and bravura, characteristics which are the main prerequisites of piano playing. Miss Vrabély was noisily applauded and on general demand added one more piece by Dreyschock. The audience was numerous, the result successful.’

The programme is listed in the database record in performance order according to information provided by the Bohemia 2/12/1859 report. However, changes were made to the programme for the actual concert and these were noted by the Bohemia 5/12/1859 review. The third item of the concert (following the declamation of the Schiller poem), was originally to have been an unspecified aria from Figaros Hochzeit [Le nozze di Figaro] sung by Miss Emilie Prause [Kainz-Prausová]. Instead of two duets by Mendelssohn, Herbtslied and Malglöckchen, to have been sung by Prause and Mik [Miková-Bennwitzová] following the pieces given by Eilers, the two female vocalists instead performed the letter aria from Figaros Hochzeit [Le nozze di Figaro]. An unspecified song by Löwe was to have been given by Miss Prause after the pieces played by Vrabélý, but this was cut from the programme. The composition by Dreyschock given a an encore by Vrabélý was not identified in any of the sources.