Venue: Žofín Island (Žofín Hall)
Event type: Art music culture
Date: 22/03/1857 4pm
Season: Lent
The German-language Prague newspaper Tagesbote aus Böhmen 19/3/1857 carried detailed advance news of this concert: ‘Programme to the first Concert, which the members of the Sophien-Akademie [Žofín Academy] are arranging under the leadeship of their music director on Sunday 22nd March at 4pm in the Hall of Žofín Island: ‘1. Part: 1. The 66th „Psalm Deus mereatur nostri“, for 8 mixed voices by C.G. Reissiger (new), 2. „Schweigen ist ein schönes Ding“, male voices by Th. Vaigt [Voigt] (new). 3. Trio in C minor by Beethoven, performed by Miss Kinzel, the Messrs Bennewitz and Brichta. 4. „Nun Herr weß sollt’ ich mich getrösten“, motet for mixed chorus by M. Hauptmann (new). 2nd Part: 5. Solo Quintet. Fragment of the historical Oratorio „The Pilgrim Pathers“ [The Pilgrim Fathers], by Anthony Philipp Heinrick from Kentucky in North America, born in Bohemia (new). 6. Maienzeit [poem] by Geibel for male-voice chorus by Julius Rietz (new). 7. „O schönster Stern“ Poem by Friedrich Oser, for double mixed chorus by Eduard Tauwitz, composed for the Academy (new.).Of the 6 new pieces we note only that the solo quintet is composed by our compatriot Anthony Philipp Heinrich, who has lived in North America for 40 years, and is currently in Prague.’
Mercy’s Anzeiger 20/3/1857 published news of this forthcoming concert given by the Žofín Academy, noting its date, time, venue, the programme in performance order and the participating soloists. Of the works being performed, the text noted those that were ‘new’, presumably meaning they were being given in Prague for the first time, and included more detailed information about the fifth number of the programme by ‘Anthony Philip Heinrich from Kentucky in North America, born in Bohemia... This solo quintet is notable that it is composed by our compatriot the former merchant Anthony Philip Heinrich who has lived for 40 years in America and is currently in Prague. Mr Heinrich is a composer of a great number of interesting works of which some... will be performed in Žofín Academy concerts.’ Miss Kinzel and Messrs Bennewitz and Brichta as members of the Žofín Academy were noted to have kindly agreed to participate in the event. On 22/3/1857 the same newspaper reported that a particular interest of the concert season would be the performance of several compositions by ‘our countryman Mr. Ant. Philipp Heinrich from Kentucky in North America’.
A review, signed ‘Z.’, of this event was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 24/3/1857. The source text also included a review of a Conservatory concert given on the same day. The reviewer reported: ‘On the same afternoon this season’s first concert by the Žofín Academy took place in the hall of Žofín Island. The program was very interesting. Firstly, we highlight for being remarkable a solo-quintet, a fragment of the historic oratorio The Pilgrim Fathers by our fellow countryman A. Ph. Heinrich. The composer, who is at present residing here [in Prague], has lived in Kentucky in North America for over forty years, where he has worked assiduously in the cultivation of music. About the aforementioned work, which has been torn out of its context [i.e. an extract performed and not the entire work], only a provisional opinion can be formed. It reveals an exceptionally original talent, and from the daring and original part-writing we may perceive many interesting features of the whole composition. According to reports received, a performance of several of his grandiose and imaginative works is to be prepared here, in the native land of our guest. Kapellmeister’s Tauwitz’s setting of the poem O schönster Stern for two choirs is a successful work of a very animating effect; the two compositions ‘Der 66. Psalm’ by Reissiger and the motet ‘Nun Herr, weß’ sollt’ ich mich getrösten’ by Hauptmann are also full of fitting and elevated expression. In contrast, the two male choirs by Voigt and J. Ritz are of lesser stature. The aforementioned compositions were all new and mostly well performed, we would only have wished for more energy and freshness from the higher male voices [i.e. tenors]. Beethoven’s C minor trio for piano, violin and cello was approvingly performed by Miss Kinzel, and Messrs Bennewitz and Brichta.’ The reviewer noted that both concerts given on that day, by the Conservatory and the Žofín Academy, were ‘numerously attended.’