• UNSPECIFIED, ?: participating ensemble

The date, time and venue for this event was listed in the Tagesanzeiger text of Bohemia 4/4/1851.

This entertainment formed part of the festivities celebrating the opening on 6th April 1851 of the Prague to Dresden railway. The Tagesanzeiger text of Bohemia 6/4/1851 listed all related events taking place in the city on that day. At 5am a train left from Prague to Bodenbach. At 5pm a banquet was given in the Spanish Hall [Španělský sál / spanischen Saale] of Prague Castle. In the illuminated [Estates] Theatre at 7pm would be performed a Festive Overture by Tauwitz, the Overture and act 2 from Kittl’s ‘Bianka und Giuseppe [Bianca und Giuseppe]’, followed by a ‘Festival play with song, dance and animated decorations [Festspiel mit Gesang, Tanz und wandelnden Dekorationen’ in one act by Hickel, music by Tauwitz. At 9pm evening in the Žofín Hall a [dance-]reunion.

A notice was published by Bohemia 6/4/1851 stating that entrance to this event was limited to guests who were in possession of entrance cards with their names printed upon them. Guests to the festival departed for Dresden at 8am the following day.

Bohemia 8/4/1851 published a report detailing all of the activities that took place in conjunction with the festival opening of the new railway. Concerning the reunion in the evening, the text noted that the Burghers of Prague had organized a reunion that from respect to the church had included no dancing [which did not traditionally take place during Lent] but instead ‘music and song [Musik und Gesang]’. No further details of the musical content of this event were noted, but the text described the lavish decoration of the venue and its surroundings.

Lumír 10/4/1851 also reported on the events surrounding the festival opening of this railway. The text noted that a festival performance had taken place in the [Estates] Theatre, after which a beseda had been held on Žofín Island. The venue had been decorated with the colours of Prague, the smaller hall with Saxon colours. ‘Music and song - amongst that Czech songs - entertained the guests.