• ensemble of the Royal Infantry Regiment of Baron Wernhardt: participating ensemble
• JEŠKO, Ludevít: director of ensemble

A large advertisement published in Bohemia 24/12/1858 stated that this event constituted the musical rehearsal to the forthcoming Society Ball [Gesellschaftsballe] to be held on 12 January 1859. The venue, time and the participation of the large orchestra of the 16^th Infantry Regiment of Baron Wernhardt under the direction of its Kapellmeister L. Jeschko [Ludevít Ješko] was noted. No further details were given except that admission to the event was stipulated as costing 20kr. The Tageskalender of Bohemia 26/12/1858 confirmed the date, time, venue and nature of this event as specified by the earlier advertisement.

News appearing in Bohemia 24/12/1858 and confirmed by both Prager Morgenpost 25/12/1858 and the Tageskalender of Bohemia 26/12/1858 indicated that later on 26/12/1858 an ensemble from the Infantry Regiment of Baron Wernhardt was to participate in a musical event held in the Konvikt Hall. Although the latter production was not reviewed by any later periodical source, there seems little doubt that it did occur given that the event was well-advertised and also featured visiting artists, namely the family of Styrian singers Remele. That more than one ensemble derived from the military resources of Baron Wernhardt performed on 26/12/1858 is suggested too by other details appearing in the source material describing the two events of that day. For the rehearsal in the Žofín Hall the ensemble appearing there is described as the ‘large orchestra of the 16th Infantry Regiment of Baron Wernhardt’, whereas the Konvikt production is noted simply as ‘ensemble of the Infantry Regiment of Baron Wernhardt’, possibly indicating a smaller, secondary musical body. Furthermore, at the Žofín event the orchestra was ‘under the personal direction of their Capellmeister L. Jeschko [Ješko].’ Wernhardt’s musicians were indeed led by Ješko during the late 1850s and appeared under his direction in Prague on many occasions. For the Konvikt event however Ješko was not specified as the director.

A brief post-event report appeared in Bohemia 27/12/1858 relating that this musical rehearsal for the forthcoming Society Ball achieved ‘a very favourable prognosis. The attendance was exquisitely numerous and the pieces performed met with great acclaim.’ Many of the works had to be repeated.

The intended Society Ball production on 12/1/1859 may not however have taken place. No reports of such an event were given by any contemporary periodical sources immediately before, on, or after that date.