Prague Concert Life, 1850-1881

Event title:

Colossal folk-festival [Riesen-Volksfest] with aeronautical displays and music performed by Regimental Ensemble of King Wilhelm I of Prussia

Venue: Rohanský ostrov

Event type: Popular social musical and dance events

Date: 16/08/1863 4pm

Season: Summer

Programme unspecified:

General participants:
  • musical ensemble of Royal Infantry Regiment of Wilhelm I, King of Prussia: participating ensemble

Commentary:

Prager Morgenpost 15/8/1863 published an extended advertisement for two days of entertainments taking place on Rohan Island which combined popular aeronautical balloon spectacles combined with performances of music by two military music ensembles, on Saturday 15th the ensemble of the Infantry Regiment of Archduke Sigismund and on 16th August that of the Infantry Regiment of King Wilhelm I of Prussia. The elaborate advertisement was designed to gain the interest of the public through the evident fashion during the 1863 Prague summer social season for events including balloon flights and ascents. These were often staged in conjunction with some associated comic, pictorial or allegorical theme. The advertisement appearing in Prager Morgenpost 15/8/1863 announced: ‘Rohan Island. Today and Sunday Colossal Folk-Festival [Riesen-Volksfest]. Saturday: Lumpaci Vagabundusm the raffish Kleeblatt das liederliche Kleeblatt – Kleeblatt translates variously as a shamrock, a heraldic device, or perhaps relevant to this occasion, a maneouvre in flight] executed in the sphere of aeronautics. Sunday: The Flight of the living Dove [Die Flucht der lebenden Tauben] from its cage, an aeronautical spectacle. Following on each day: Balloon Hunt [Ballonen-Jagd]. At dusk: Production of Mr Soukup with his Artistic-Theatre [Kunst-Theater]. Participating the musical ensemble: Saturday: Regimental Ensemble of the Archduke Sigismund. Sunday: King Wilhelm I. of Prussia Infantry Regiment. Commencing 4 o’clock. All details on the bill poster.’

A similar advertisement for this event was published by Prager Morgenpost 16/8/1863. The source was identical with that published the previous day in the newspaper but omitting details of the Saturday event.


Summary of sources:

Prager Morgenpost (15/08/1863)
Prager Morgenpost (16/08/1863)