Prague Concert Life, 1850-1881

Event title:

Benefit ball in aid of the St Bartholomew Poor House

Venue: Žofín Island (Žofín Hall)

Event type: Popular social musical and dance events

Date: 23/02/1854

Season: Carnival

Beneficiary: Prague Institute for the Poor [St Bartholomew Poor House]

Programme including:

General participants:
  • ensemble of Infantry Regiment of Prince Gustav von Wasa: participating ensemble
  • SVOBODA, František Václav: director of ensemble
MICHL, František : polka La Coquette, orch
MICHL, František : galop Der Courmacher, orch
SACHER, ? : galop Rendezvous
CHRISTEN, Robert : quadrille Elisabeth, orch
BINDER, ? : galop Faßbinder, orch

Commentary:

Advance news of this event was published by Tagesbote aus Böhmen 17/2/1854. This reported that a musical trial for the ball arranged on Carnival Monday [Faschingsmontag] for the benefit of the St Bartholomew Poor House would take place on Sunday afternoon [19th February] in the Žofín Hall. The programme was noted to include 5 new dance compositions: La Coquette, Polka; Courmacher, Galopp by Michel; Rendezvous-Galopp by Sacher; Elisabeth-Quadrille by Christen; Faßbinder-Galopp by Binder. ‘The production of these novelties, the circumstance that is the last ball-music trial of this year’s carnival, and the charitable cause for which the profits are destined, leads us to anticipate that this musical festival will have a numerous attendance.’

Bohemia 17/2/1854 also published news of the trial for this event, relating the date of the trial (19th February), its time, venue, and the beneficiary, and noting that performing would be the band of the Infantry Regiment Prince Wasa under the direction of Kapellmeister Swoboda [Svoboda]. This same ensemble and director presumably participated in the ball itself.

On 11th March Tagesbote aus Böhmen published a report quoted from the newspaper Prager Zeitung that on Carnival Monday [23/2/1854], the ball for the benefit of the Bartholomew Poor House made a profit of 2392fl 45kr. The town council and the ball committee were thanked for making the event possible and for its organization. The occasion was a ‘brilliant success’.


Summary of sources:

Tagesbote aus Böhmen (17/02/1854)
Bohemia (17/02/1854)
Tagesbote aus Böhmen (11/03/1854)