Prague Concert Life, 1850-1881

Event title:

Benefit musical rehearsal to the forthcoming Society Ball to be held on 9/2/1859 with music given by ensemble of the Infantry Regiment of Baron Wernhardt

Venue: Žofín Island (Žofín Hall)

Event type: Popular social musical and dance events

Date: 19/12/1858 5pm

Season: Advent

Beneficiary: Seminary Institute for the Blind

Programme including:

JEŠKO, Ludevít : polka Diavoletto, orch
     • ensemble of the Royal Infantry Regiment of Baron Wernhardt:
JEŠKO, Ludevít : polka Rübezahl, orch
     • ensemble of the Royal Infantry Regiment of Baron Wernhardt:

Commentary:

The Prager Morgenpost 21/12/1858 report noted that as during the performance of prize dance compositions given the previous Sunday in the Sopieninselsaal [Žofín Hall], this event, a rehearsal for the Society Ball [Gesellschaftsball] to be held on 2/2/1859, had also attracted a numerous audience. The profits from the occasion were to be given to the Institute for the Poor Blind at Hradčany. Of the works performed the two specified polkas by Jeschko [Ješko] had received the loudest applause. At both productions, this one on 19/12/1858 and that given the previous week, Baron Wernhardt’s ensemble played ‘with accustomed precision’.

Bohemia 16/12/1858 and Prager Morgenpost 18/12/1858 published news that the ensemble of the Infantry Regiment of Baron Wenhardt was to participate in a musical entertainment on ‘Sunday’ in the Konvikt Hall. In the Tageskalender of Bohemia 19/12/1858 a musical event was indeed stated to be taking place at 5pm at that venue. However, the same Tageskalender also noted that the ensemble of Baron Wernhardt was to appear on that day also at 5pm in the Sophieninselsaale [Žofín Hall] in a Musical Rehearsal [Musicprobe] for the forthcoming Society Ball to be held on 9/2/1859. Both of these events on 19/12/1858 in the Konvikt Hall and Žofín Hall did take place, and included the ensemble of the Infantry Regiment of Baron Wernhardt; this is confirmed by post-event reports detailing both productions that were published in Morgenpost 21/12/1858. Therefore we may assume that the time of 5pm given by in the Bohemia Tageskalender notice for the Konvikt event was incorrect, or that Wernhardt’s ensemble divided to appear at both venues.


Summary of sources:

Bohemia (19/12/1858)
Prager Morgenpost (21/12/1858)