• TIEFENSEE, Charlotte: soloist, v

Advance news that Miss z Tiefensee was to give a concert in Prague appeared in the newspaper Tagesbote aus Böhmen 22/1/1854. The text noted that the event would take place ‘this week’. Tagesbote 28/1/1854 reported that ‘Tomorrow at 12 noon Miss Fischer von Tiefensee gives a concert in the Konvikt Hall. The concert-giver, who has appeared under the name Pescatori in London, Paris and also in Italy and Germany, and has already been vaunted by this newspaper, is a pupil of the splendid Proksch, and is laudably known not only as a singer but also as a pianist and composer. In her concert tomorrow she will perform among other works an aria from “Barbier von Sevilla” and a Lied by Mendelssohn: “Auf Flügeln des Gesanges”.’

An unsigned review of this event was published by Tagesbote aus Böhmen 31/1/1854. The correspondent remarked that the occasion was numerously attended, and that the audience showed their appreciation of the concert-giver through patiently awaiting her appearance, delayed by illness during the afternoon. Tiefensee was noted to ‘possess a substantial mezzosoprano, which in its depths sounds like a very beautiful alto. She has a very distinguished technique and appears to be an excellent dramatic singer. The final aria from Lucrezia Borgia showed traces of indisposition. However, through the performance of two Czech and one Spanish folksong the Fraulein inspired the audience to stormy applause.’ The review criticised the non-appearance of the singer Versing who had been advertised in the programme as participating in the concert.

A brief, unsigned, review of this concert was published by the Czech-language arts periodical Lumír 2/2/1854. The correspondent reported that the concert was ‘especially interesting in that the lady concert-giver left the assembled audience to wait a whole hour. We noted in Miss Fischerová, of Czech family and pupil of the Prague Institute of Mr Prokš, is an artiste meriting her good reputation that she has brought back to her homeland from Italy. Miss Fischerová sang there with approbation for some years in the leading Italian theatres under the name Sgra Pescatore. Her voice is a mezzosoprano of great range and particularly pretty in the deeper register; her technique is cleanly Italianate, her virtuosity evident. The aria from Lucretia was performed with dramatic expression. Miss Fischerová knows how to perform songs [i.e. art songs] excellently; she obtained the greatest applause in the concer with the two Czech folksongs and one Spanish [folksong]. Applause was plentiful.’