• Arion: participating institution, male vv chorus

• RUBIN, ?: director of ensemble

A brief review of this event first appeared in Prague Morgenpost 10/11/1862 relating that ‘The Schiller Festival of the German Singing Society „Arion“ took place yesterday evening in the Žofín Island Hall. The Festival had a very worthy and noble character, as might well have been anticipated in advance when so able forces as Miss Gebhardt, Mrs Kainz-Prause [Kainz-Prauseová], Mr Hardtmuth, Prof. Pisařovic, Prof. Hrabě, Mr Rubin, Wahle and several others were participating. A review follows tomorrow.’ No further details of the event were given by this report.

Prager Zeitung 11/11/1862 published a brief account of the Schiller anniversary celebrations then having been given in Prague. The correspondent reported: ‘As we have already announced, festivities were arranged during recent days to celebrate brilliantly the memory of the great poet [Schiller], whose 103rd birthday [it would have been]. These were commenced by members of the Reading Room of German Students, who assembled in the Konvikt Hall with numerous guests and celebrated the acclaimed poet through readings and song. To end the celebration was a festival social evening [Festkommers - literally a students’ ceremonial drinking session]. — Less inspring was the Festival that took place yesterday at noon in the Konvikt Hall, likewise to which congregated a numerous public. — In the evening there took place in the Žofín Island Hall a Schiller celebration arranged by the music society „Arion“. In the middle of the stage was, surrounded by plants, the bust of the celebrated poet decked with a laurel wreath. The concert, directed by the former orchestra member Mr Newikluf, opened with the splendidly worked chorus from Schiller’s „[Das Lied von der] Glocke“ by Vogel [Vogl], together with a specially written Prologue on the topic of the festival (a poem by Herloßsohn) charmingly spoken by Miss Gebhart. The second piece was the magnificent Septet by Beethoven op.20. Mr Hardmuth and Mrs Kainz-Prause [Prausová] each sang two Lieder and together a duet from „Figaro’s Hochzeit“. In Mr Th. Wahle we became acquainted with a talented pianist. The society member Mr Weltsch read [Schiller’s poem „[Der] Taucher“. To close the festival society members performed „Bundeslied“, composed and directed by Mr D. Rubin. The room of the Hall was closely packed [by the audience].’  

The supplement pages to Bohemia 11/11/1862 published a detailed coverage of events comprising the Schiller Festival, including a review of the concert arranged by Arion and the concert arranged by Simon and Ronsberger. Of the former the correspondent, signed ‘V.’, related ‘[In the] Evening [of 9/11/1862] the singing society „Arion“ arranged a declamatory-musical festival in the Island Hall [Žofín Island], which is to be commended as much for the excellent arrangements as for the good choice of programme. A Prologue and an entrance chorus composed by H. A. R. Vogl to [the poem] „[Das Lied von der] Taucher“ sung by the society members, formed the prelude to the concert. Of declamatory items there followed „Theilung der Erde“ performed by Miss Gebhardt and „Taucher“ by Mr Weltsch. The highlight of the musical part [of the event] was the Septet of Beethoven, this time played in its entirity. Of the performers Messrs Rubin, Unger, Brichta, Pisařowitz [Pisařovic], Newikluf, Janatka and Hrabě the players of the wind and bass instruments in particular deserved the fullest recognition. Mrs Kainz-Prause [Kainz-Prausová] sang a Lied by Abt and one by the old-master Tomášek’s „Mädchen aus der Fremde“ with brilliant success and was applauded as vociferously by the audience, as were Miss Gebhardt and the performers of the Septet. The same [reception] was given to the performances („Des Mädchens Klage“ and „Der Alpenjäger“ by F. Schubert) by Mr Hardmuth and with Mrs Prause [Prausová] of the duet between Susanna and the Count [from Le nozze di Figaro]. In Mr Wahle, the player of a so-called Caprice heroïque „le reveil du lion“ by A. Konsky [Kątski], we encountered a pianist that, except for choosing to perform the banal, suited to the context of a programme of salon pieces, gave a performance worthy of recognition for its touch, purity, accuracy and elegance, uncommon for a first public debut. The numerous attendance we have already mentioned, upon the stage in the brilliantly lit hall was a bust of the poet between floral decorationsn appropriate for this festival soirée.’

A review, prefixed by the signature of a mark of two horizonthal parallel lines, was published by the newspaper Prager Morgenpost 11/11/1862. The critic related that ‘The music evening, which the German choral society „Arion“ arranged yesterday in Žofín Island Hall for the celebration of Schiller’s birthday, attracted an audience that was as numerous as it was select, [and which] followed the pieces of the interestingly compiled programme with great attentiveness. The prologue, declaimed by Miss Gebhardt with warm feeling and with animated expression, opened the celebration in a dignified fashion. Thereafter Beethoven’s Septet for Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Bassoon, Cornet, Cello and Double Bass was performed. This difficult, for all of the instruments highly interesting piece, was performed by Messrs Rudin, Anger, Professor Pisařovic, Rewiklus, Janatka, Brichta and Professor Hrabě with great precision and inspired a veritable storm of applause. Mr Hartmuth then performed two songs with a fresh, energetic voice: „des Mädchens Klage“ and „der Alpenjäger“. A young man, Mr Wetsch, a pupil of Mr Oberländer declaimed Schiller’s „Taucher“. This speaker had a handsome powerful voice and he received much applause, which perhaps stemmed from several of the guests having already heard „Taucher“ being given at the Konvikt Hall on the same day. Mr Th. Wahle played „Le reveil du lion Caprice heroique for piano“ by R. Konstky in an animated manner that demonstrated his great technique. Miss Gebhardt then performed the Schiller poem „Dir Theilung der Erde“ with fine nuance and Mrs Kainz-Prause sang two songs: „Gute Nacht, du mein herziges Kind“ by Fr. Abt, and „das Mädchen aus der Ferne [Das Mädchen ause der Fremde]“ by Tomaschek. Both ladies were honoured with continuous and rapturous applause from the audience. Similar applause was accorded to the duet from „Figaros Hochzeit“ by Mozart, sung by Mrs Kainz-Prause and Mr Hardtmuth. A chorus for male voices „das Bundeslied“ composed by the director of the society’s chorus Mr Rubin, gave the society members the opportunity to demonstrate that they already have a proficiently trained choir, which offers a good prognosis of the prospects of this new Society. As befitting with the Festival the Žofín Island Hall was decorated very beautifully and simply. A large bust of Schiller, which was decorated with a laurel wreath, illustrated the celebration’s significance.’

The programme is listed in the order in which the event was described by the Prager Morgenpost review with additional details taken from the Prager Zeitung and Bohemia review texts. The Prager Morgenpost source was most specific in noting the programme order, although certain details (such as the first chorus by Vogl and the correct title of the Tomášek song were missing or erroneous.’