• Hlahol: organizing institution, vv

Dalibor 20/4/1862 published an open invitation from the Prague singing society Hlahol to all singing societies in Bohemia and Moravia to participate in a ‘national singing festival’ in Prague on 17th-18th May 1862.

The German-langage newspaper Prager Morgenpost 15/5/1862 published news of Hlahol’s arrangement of a singing festival. The report specifically noted that the event was a ‘Czech Singing Festival [čechischen Gesangsfeste]’, relating that ‘To the Czech Singing Festival, which Hlahol arranges, 48 singing societies from Bohemia and Moravia have promised their participation. On 16th at 3pm the first rehearsal for the Singing Festival takes place in the Konvikt Hal, on the 17th of this month at 8.30am will be the second rehearsal at the same [venue]. At 10.30 in the morning (on the 17th) the singing societies will parade with their banners [ihren Fahnen - flags or banners] to the concert, which will take place in the New Town Theatre and which is to be combined with the drawing of the Havlíček-lottery.’ A second concert given by the societies was noted to be taking place on 18th on Žofín Islan at 6.30pm.

A review, signed ‘§’, of the first rehearsal given on 16/5/1862 was published by Prager Morgenpost 17/5/1862. This noted the arrival of participating singing societies and described briefly rehearsal itself on 16/5/1862. This was followed by a report that on the day of the festival ‘(Saturday) at 8.30am will be given a rehearsal in the Žofín Hall, following which the singing societies will parade with their flags to the New Town Theatre, where the winner of the Hawlířeklotterie [Havlíček Lottery] will be drawn. This afternoon [Friday 17/5/1862] there will be a rehearsal in the Žofín Hall and in the evening a great festival in the Civic Society [Bürgerressource].’ Prager Morgenpost 18/5/1862 then published a revew of the festival, beginning with news that ‘The Festival of Czech Singers [Das Fest der čechischen Sänger] commenced yesterday morning at 9am in the Hall on Žofín Island with a general rehearsal, attended by members of Czech singing societies that had assembled in Prague. A numerous, curious crowd also congregated on Žofín Island as well as on the quayside.’