• Sokol: participating orchestra

In its section of daily news Národní listy 28/1/1863 reported that the ‘Second Dance entertainment of Sokol will take place on Sunday 1st February from 7-12 o’clock on Žofín Island. Admission for members of Sokol and for guests personally recommended by them. Tickets and all more detailed news are obtainable daily every evening from 6-9 o’clock in the office of the Society in Apollo [Hall] on Sunday 1st February from 10am to 3pm.’ A further report appeared in the same issue of the newspaper noting that the: ‘Gymnastic Society „Sokol“ is arranging on Sunday 1st February at 11am an extraordinary general meeting, in which the Society will discuss engaging new premises. As is known, the house at „Apollo“ is bought from the [religious order of the ] poor Sisters of Horažďovice. Sokol is therefore seeking suitable premises in which new gymnastic exercises could be possible.’

The text of the report published by Národní listy 28/1/1863 reappeared verbatim in an public notice published by the committee of Sokol in Národní listy 31/1/1863 and 1/2/1863. Appended to the end of the source was a note that admission tickets were also available from the box office of the venue [Žofín] on the evening of the entertainment.

A brief, unsigned review of this event was published by Národní listy 3/2/1863. The correspondent reported: ‘Second dance entertainment of Sokol, which took place on Sunday in the Žofín Hall, distinguished itself like the first [entertainment] with its spontaneity and clear national character. Both halls were tastefully decorated, the large with blue and white, the small with red and white. In the central recess of the great hall was found amongst greenery on a plinth a falcon [sokol] with outstretch wings. Another falcon beneath the orchestra held in its talons the monogram of the Society. The gathering was numerous and evidently very satisfied with all of the arrangements. Both halls dances to the sounds of the ensemble of „Sokol“, which held together courageously – until the tempo in „Beseda“. At 11 o’clock the society dispersed, regretting only that the entertainment could not last longer.’ The salon dance Beseda was almost certainly the then extremely popular composition of that name by Ferdinand Heller.

Lumír 5/2/1863 published a review, signed ‘–.’, of this event. The correspondent remarked: ‘Second dance entertainment of Sokol [Druhá taneční zábava Sokolů] took place on 1st February in Žofín Hall. The great Hall was decorated in blue and white and a little red and white. In the central recess of the great hall stood on a plinth wound with greenery an hark-eyed, open-winged falcon. Another falcon beneath the orchestra held in its talons the monogram of the society. Those attending were numerous, unrestrained, and had a definite folk [national] character. The fair sex were attired simply yet in tasteful national dress. White and red skirts, rose-coloured and red bodices; beautiful floral corsages in hair or tresses down to the nape magnified their beauty. The men had traditional waistcoats and only perhaps three tailcoats were to be seen. The Sokol ensemble performed solidly and besides the customary dances also danced the „Beseda“.  The exhilirated society greatly regretted that this delectable entertainment could not go on longer than midnight.’