• BENDEL, Franz: soloist, pf

Národní listy 26/4/1863 published news of this event, noting: ‘Concert. Today at noon Mr Fr. Bendel gives his second and final concert in the Konvikt Hall, in which also will participate Misses Brennerová and Peklová, Messrs Řebíček and Peer.’ Interestingly, the issue of the Czech-language newspaper did not report that on 26/4/1863 at 12 noon in the Žofín Island Hall a benefit concert was being given in aid of poor pupils of the Prague Higher Gymnasia.

The Tagesprogramm daily almanac of Prague social events published by Bohemia 26/4/1863 announced: ‘12 o’clock in the Konvikt Hall: Concert of Mr Fr. Bendel.’

A brief note, signed ‘-ý.’, of the success of this event was published by Prager Morgenpost 28/4/1863. The review followed immediately after an account by the same critic of a benefit concert taking place in the Žofín Island Hall on the same day and at the same time as Bendel’s own production in the Konvikt Hall. The critic reported: ‘At the same time (noon), the pianist Mr Bendl gave his second and last concert in the Konvikt Hall. I already had the opportunity to comment in this newspaper upon this artist’s individuality on the occasion of his recently arranged [previous] soirée. This, and on the face of it the chance coincidence of two concerts at the same time and that on the face of it by chance (real, in fact, literally but however necessary) coincidence two concerts in one and the same hour says to me, excludes me from commenting upon the success of this Matinée. As, incidentally, I heard, its success was really auspicious, as might only have been expected. The audience was, as we heard, very numerous and vigorous with its applause.’

An unsigned report, which included details of Bendel’s programme, was published by the German-language Prague newspaper Politik 29/4/1863. The correspondent noted: ‘Concerts. In spite of the already advanced season we are not short of musical amusements of this kind; indeed last Sunday lunchtime two concerts took place at the same time. In the Konvikt Hall the pianist Mr Bendel gave his second concert, in which he performed the so rarely heard F-sharp minor Sonata by R. Schumann (dedicated to Clara from Florestan and Eusebius), then Mozart’s C-minor Fantasy, the Gavotte by J.S. Bach, then a trio in G of his own composition (in which, incidentally, the Andante stands out for its brilliant conception) together with Mr Rebíček (violin) and Mr Peer (cello); and finally salon pieces of his own, with his proven mastery and that won strong applause. Miss Brenner [Brennerová] and Peckel [Peckelová] supported him with skilful vocal performances. The first had sung the Bravura Variations by Proch directly beforehand in the concert held simultaneously in the Island Hall [‘Inselsaal’ – Žofín Island Hall] in aid of free meals for needy Gymnasium pupils. In this concert [i.e. the Žofín Island concert] Miss Zawiszanka performed Lieder and an aria from Maria di Rohan; Miss Čermák [Čermáková] gave piano performances of a Capriccio by Mendelssohn and the étude Le Tournoi by Schulhoff; the cello virtuoso Mr Wagner played a solo by Piatti and finally the Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Kapellmeister Mr Tauwitz, played the Italian Symphony in A and the Overture to Ein Sommernachtstraum by Mendelssohn with particular care. All these superb performances were received with warm applause by the large audience; the songs were repeated by demand.’

The Politik correspondent thus noted that Miss Brenner [Brennerová] performed Proch’s Bravura Variations both in Bendel’s concert and in the benefit concert given in the Žofín Island Hall, obviously involving travelling from one venue to the other.