• Harmonie: participating institution, vv

Prager Morgenpost 10/4/1862 in a report titled ‘Harmonie’, that ‘The Society “Harmonie” will give its next entertainment [Kränzchen] on Friday 11th April at 8pm in the Žofín Island Hall. It delights us that this friendly society thrives excellently despite the efforts of a particular Czech body to cause trouble, and we note with pleasure that the same [Czech organization] finds it irksome the keen participation that the society [Harmonie] enjoys.’ The Czech society to which the writer referred was not specified. Most likely it was the recently formed male-voice choral society Hlahol, or the then nascent Umělecká beseda. Quite why Harmonie drew criticism was puzzling given that its programmes, as on this occasion, included both German- and Czech-language content. On 15th April Prager Morgenpost published a brief review of this entertainment, the text of which was notable for describing the active German-orientated musical societies then active in Prague. The correspondent reported that ‘It is an agreeable sign, that the number of social societies in Prague in recent times is greatly proliferating. Firstly we must to name the German singing society “die Flöte”, then the “Harmonia”, and finally we note a new German society “Arion” developing, whose founding purpose is music and social entertainment. The “Harmonia” is a society that is not exclusively German, but numbers both German and Czech members and which, as its name, promotes unity and understanding between the two. This was clearly demonstrated at its last evening entertainment which “Harmonia” arranged in the Žofín Hall. The programme was very rich and catered for both the German and Czech guests in equal measure. German and Czech songs were given in alternation and gained equally warm applause from both parties, the applause also appropriate to the choice of pieces which well entertained the guests. Several instrumental items were performed, [which together with] a humorous Czech lecture made a colourful potpourri of a programme. Particular applause found Misses Beistl [Beitl] and Weiß, as well as Messrs Appé, Nachbauer and Popper. The overall arrangements for the “Abendunterhaltung” were very handsome and the attendance was very numerous. Tables were arranged in the larger and smaller Žofín Halls as well as on the gallery, and were taken by the guests. Those who arrived late found themselves without.’

Bohemia 11/4/1862 noted in the daily event almanac that ‘8pm. Žofín Island. Entertainment [Kränzchen] of the society “Harmonia”.’

The brief Dalibor 1/5/1862 review, signed ‘r-r’, reported that ‘On the 11th April there took place in the Žofín Hall an entertainment by the musical society “Harmonie.” Of choruses, we heard “Milenka” by Jelen and “Nevěrný milý” by Vašák (from [the song periodical] Záboj), which were performed accurately. Mr Fiedler exhibited a pretty talent, a sonorous voice and appropriate expression with his performance of Škroup’s aria from “Dráteník”, after which he received applause and was [curtain-]called. The audience was even more exhilirated by Mr Appé, who rendered excellently the song “Moravana”.’ The two singers were however criticised for giving encores of unspecified German works, instead of complying with the wishes of the audience to repeat the Czech songs. The ‘deft’ pianist J.R. Rozkošný performed his own concert march Kolibri ‘with great success despite the weak piano.’ Miss Beitlová and Mr Žižka, the latter who gave a declamation, were also praised by the correspondent. The other singers noted by the Prager Morgenpost text as having participated in the event, Nachbauer and Miss Weiß, were not mentioned by the Czech source. Conversely, Prager Morgenpost made no mention of Fiedler.

The contrasting coverage of this event by Prager Morgenpost and Dalibor is notable. The former emphasized how the society was aimed at both the German and Czech social communities and drew attention to the entertainment being fashioned successfully to serve both. The Dalibor report was more muted in its coverage, pointedly noting the apparent biased of the German-language encores. Neither did the Czech periodical report show any appreciation of the event and the society being levelled equally at both Germans and Czechs.