• Prague Conservatory: pupil(s) of institute, str

Details of the annual public performance examinations of pupils of the Conservatory appeared in the Lokalzeitung of Bohemia 3/8/1851. This noted that examinations for pupils of the two instrumental classes would take place on 4th and 5th August at 9am in the Žofín Hall, and for pupils of the Opera School at 12 noon in the [Estates] Theatre. Admission to the latter was by admission tickets only. Brief details of the event, including the date, time and venue, were contained in the Tagesanzeiger text of Bohemia 5/8/1851.

A review, signed ‘V.’, of the examinations for instrumentalists of the Conservatory was published by Bohemia 8/8/1851. The correspondent began by remarking how the examinations took place over two days and that the continuous performances resulted in programmes of a length only encountered by ‘English audiences’. After briefly remarking upon the examinations for wind players of the previous day, the review focussed upon the event of 5th August. No details were given about individual performances, which comprised three players on the contrabasso, three violoncellists and 17 violinists giving ‘awkward and difficult concert pieces by Beriot, Durst, Pechatchek [Pekáček], Alland, Mayseder, Pixis, Bazzini and Ernst. Whether the ‘violinists’ included viola players was not specified. The basic characteristics acquired by the string players from their studies at the Conservatory were considered to be characteristic tone and perceptive interpretation while maintaining their own originality. To conclude the event 16 violinists played in unison the Rêverie by Vieuxtemps.