• Prague Conservatory: pupil(s) of institute, vv

Details of the annual public performance examinations of pupils of the Conservatory appeared in the Lokalzeitung of Bohemia 3/8/1851. This noted that examinations for pupils of the two instrumental classes would take place on 4th and 5th August at 9am in the Žofín Hall, and for pupils of the Opera School at 12noon in the [Estates] Theatre. Admission to the latter was by admissioon tickets only.

The Tagesanzeiger text of Bohemia 5/8/1851 reported the date, time and venue of this event.

A review, signed ‘V.’, of this performance was published by Bohemia 10/8/1851. The correspondent related that these examinations could not provide a clear indication of the potential of graduating pupils to acheve successful careers as opera singers. Such an appraisal was felt to be impossible on account of their being several artists giving their debut at the same time, whether their characters were advantageously or poorly disposed to the occasion, and dependent upon the extent to which they suffered from stage fright. The review was there intended as a guide and was not to be considered judgemental. On this occasion Miss Pauline Gmach [Gmachová] and Marie Klinger [Klingerová] were identified as potential artists of the first rank. The works given by the two were identified and brief descriptions given of the character of their voices. Miss Gmach was noted to posses a voice so ‘bell-clear... as had not been heard in a long time’. Although Miss Klinger was possessed of a voice and personality ‘well-suited to the great arias’, the correspondent outlined aspects of her singing that could still benefit from improvement. The ‘very lovely’ Miss Duras [Durasová] ‘mastered her difficult task with great skilfulness. Her voice, which is not very strong but is very graceful’ exhibited ‘a high degree of already acquired skill... The most substantial task today had to be solved by Mr Seiler, who not only contributed [the rôles] of Alphonso, Antonio and Marcell, but performed a short scene from Bayard’s „Er muss auf’s Land“ as well as reciting the last monologue of Tell from Schiller’s play.