• Flöte: participating institution, male vv

Prager Morgenpost 11/2/1863 reported that ‘The Singing Society „Flöte“ will be giving several productions [Productionen] during the Carnival period and henceforth in the Hall of the Žofín Island, the space of the Hall „Bohemia“ being too small. The first of these productuions takes place on 21st of this month; the programme is being put together with great skill.’ The programme was then related in a report appearing in Prager Männergesang 17/2/1863: ‘Singing Society „Flöte“. On the 21st of this month the German Singing Society „Flöte“ hold a Liedertafel, for which the following programme is established. 1. „Deutscher Vereinssängergruss“ [German Society-singer greetings], „Wach auf du deutscher Minnesang“ [Awake you German Minnesinger.] (chorus, dedicated to the German Singing Society „Flöte“ by F. Neumann), „Der deutsche Knabe“ (Bass solo by Abt), „Wir bleiben treu“ (chorus by Pfeil), „Schiffers Gruß“ (baritone solo by Fuchs), Piano piece, „Oesterreicher Lied“ (chorus by Neumann), „Humorous Terzett“ by F. Schäffner. 2. „Wanderers Nachtlied“ (Quartet by Gabler), Declamation, „Sturmbeschwörung“ (chorus by Dürner), Piano piece, „Die Wacht am Rhein“ (chorus by Abt).’ The last of these compositions was mistakenly attributed to Abt; the subsequent review confirms that the chorus was by Wilhelm.

Prager Morgenpost 23/2/1863 published a detailed review, signed ‘=’, of this event. The correspondent rmarked: ‘Evening entertainment of the „Flöte“. The Kränzchen the day before last in the Žofín Island Hall made for a very relaxed evening entertainment full of mirth and cheer by the local German Singing and Social Society [Gesangs- und Geselligkeitsvereins] „Flöte“. A refined and quite amusing programme as well as an elegant society were combined. Among the guests we nited Professor Brinz, Professor Herbst, Dr Schmezkal and several other German deputies [of the state legislative assembly - the Landtag]. Plenty of charming ladies, who had enjoyed the Carnival, now also adorned the Žofín Island Hall in Lent. Among them was the daughter of His Excellency the Colonel-Estates-Marshal [Oberstlandmarschall]. The attendance was so numerous that every place in the hall and on the gallery was taken. In the middle of the Hall the podium was contructed, on which the busts of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress were mounted. The members of the Society performed the choruses and solo pieces. Particular applause gained the choruses: „Wir bleiben treu“ by Pfeil, „Oesterreicher Lied“ by Neumann and „Die Wacht am Rhein“ by Wilhelm, which on general demand had to be encored. Mr Neumann, who served as conductor of the Society, performed two piano pieces, which received universal approbation. Miss Walter, who has a pleasant mid-range voice, very effectively performed several vocal works, among which was a duet with Mr Meister, one of the most able of the multitudinously merited members of „Flöte“. A humorous Terzett by Schäffner, performed by Society members, inspired great jocularity. The masks were so splendid that ‘auf der Zwergfell der Anwesenden wirkten’ [possibly meaning they were the talk of all those present - lit. ‘on the midriff of those attending’. Finally, the report noted that guests joked and drank at their tables until departing at one o’clock.

The duet performed by Miss Walter and Meister was not listed by the original Prager Morgenpost report of the programme. The database record of the programme is listed in the order given by the Prager Morgenpost 17/2/1863 report. The duet has been listed at the end of the programme.