• Ensemble of Regiment of Prince Vasa: participating ensemble

Tagesbote aus Böhmen 23/2/1854 and 28/2/1854 published an advertisement for this event taking place in the Estates Theatre. Admission to the venue cost 1fl 20kr. The cost of boxes in the Parterre or in the first tier cost 5fl; in the second tier 4fl; third tier 3fl. Admission to the seated gallery cost 36kr; standing gallery 24kr and to the last gallery - ‘letzte Gallerie’, 10kr. An identically worded advertisement appeared in Mercy’s Anzeiger 23/2/1854.

An unsigned review of this event was published by Tagesbote aus Böhmen 1/3/1854. The correspondent concentrated upon describing the visual spectacle of the occasion. The event was said to have been very numerously attended ‘with a particularly large proportion of the fairer sex.’ Many of the participants attended in masks; the volume of conversation was likened to a ‘Ratzenchorus [lit. rat’s chorus]’ competing with the music. Although many of the costumes were ‘hardly very modest, the decorum was of the highest order.’ ‘Russians and Turks [i.e. participants dressing in Russian or Turkish costume] - at this time the two countries were at war - were noted to be peaceful neighbours; many lady devils were noted to be in attendance, ‘handsome Satanellas’. The facilities were said to be ‘expedient, friendly and comfortable, only the buffet on the first floor left something to be desired.’ No report was made about the musical content of the occasion.

A notice was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 2/3/1854 that may have related to this event. Entitled ‘By F. - F.F.’, the writer related that he/she had attended the Masked Ball [Maskenball] despite feeling a little indisposed. Unfortunately the ‘oppressive sultriness under the mask [costume] had exacerbated our queasiness so much that I had to leave the hall without having spoken a word to anyone’. The correspondent begged the indulgence of the reader to read another paper to hear about the event. ‘F.F.’ was most likely Friedrich Feigert, then the leading Prague dance master who was instrumental in arranging many large-scale society dance events during the 1850s.

The Czech arts periodical Lumír 2/3/1854 also published a review of this event. The unspecified correspondent remarked that ‘The day before yesterday’s masked ball was packed and the entertainment was more lively than in previous masked events, although not more tasteful and still less witty. Both halls were lit magnificently and the smaller hall... [was] very tastefully with pretty tapestries draped from the pillars. The music, from the regiment [ensemble] of Prince Vasa, personally directed by Kapellmeister [kapelního mistra] Svoboda, ceased about 11[pm] but the gathering did not disipate before 1[am], such was the crush for the cloakroom and the exit.’