• FRASSINETTI, Sebastian: soloist, vl

The daily theatre bill published by l23/6/1857 announced the appearance in the German Royal Estates Theatre of the Genoese violinist Frassinetti, playing after the performances of two one-act comedy plays. The source related: ‘Royal Estates Theatre in Prague. Tuesday 23rd June 1857. (Box Subscription Number 138. Stalls Subscription Number 161). Während der Börse. Farce in one act by Ed. Mautner.’ After then listing the rôles and the participating theatre personnel, the bill continued: ‘Die junge Pathe. Facre in 1 act by Both. Thereafter: Concert of Mr Sebastian Frassinetti, from Genoa. After the first piece: La Melancolie by Prume. After the second piece: Fandango Espagnol by Philippe Bolognesi. Commencing 7 o’clock. Ending after 9 o’clock.’

A review, signed ‘h.’, of this performance was published by Tagesbote aus Böhmen 24/6/1857 ‘as its regular (usually daily) report of happenings in the local Estates Theatre. The correspondent related: ‘Yesterday there appeared a violin virtuoso, Mr Frassinetti from Genoa, during the evening performance in the Theatre. He has a tender cantilena to his tone and an unpretentious simplicity of style, but is an educated virtuosity in all respects in the most difficult details, in flageolet, in double stops, in highlighting melody with simultaneous quick embelishments etc.’ In Prume’s „Melancolie“ Mr Frassinetti gave all the variations with purity and smoothness, especially in the double stopped variation both hands showed equal skill in the purity of the fingering as in the lightness and elasticity of the bowing. The second piece, to which the concert-giver limited himself [i.e. he only performed the two works], a „Fandango“ by Bolognesi, is simply a collection of brilliant variations on a Spanish dance theme. It was understandable given the little-known name of the artist, given that the concert was out of season and that the audience was very sparse, but the worthy skill of the guest was well recognized. He was recalled to the stage twice after both pieces. The full-length pieces of the evening were „Während der Böse“ in which Mr Weilenbeck was very amusing and Mr Guthenthal played the little rôles of the crowd with comic masks, and the „Junge Pathe“ with the splendid performances of Misses Rudloff and Mrs von Lucy.’