Prague Concert Life, 1850-1881

Event title:

Performance of Festival Cantata given in Prague Castle on the occasion of the visit of the Emperor Franz Joseph

Venue: Prague Castle

Parent Event:
Musical entertainment given by Kopta's Sextet

Event type: State or civil events

Date: 03/06/1854 10pm

Season: Summer

Programme comprising:

KITTL, Jan Bedřich : cantata Jubel-Cantata, solo vv, chorus, orch
     • Prague Conservatory: orch
     • Žofín Academy: vv

Commentary:

Der Tagesbote 21/5/1854 reported that ‘The pupils of the Prague Conservatory will perform a cantata composed by the Director [of the Conservatory] Kittl at the Quay by the Franzensmonument upon the arrival there of their Majesties.’ This referred to the projected two-day visit to Prague on 3rd June by the newly married Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elizabeth. Mercy’s Anzeiger 25/5/1854 reported that a scaffolded gallery had been erected in the shadow of the Franzensmonument, on which members of the Conservatory would perform ‘several compositions’ during the parade past of the royal couple. The Mercy’s Anzeiger source did not mention a performance of Kittl’s cantata.

On 31/5/1854 Der Tagesbote published the complete itinerary for that day of the visit. After arrival at the State Railway Station, the royal party would follow a route by carriage along Hibernergasse [Hybernská], Obstgasse [Na Příkopě], through Neue Allee [Nové Alej] to the embankment of the river. At the place of the momument were to be assembled the pupils of both the Conservatory and of the Art Academy. Pupils of the Žofín Academy were also present further along the Quay.

A later report published by Der Tagesbote 2/6/1854 stated that ‘The Jubel-Cantata, which on the day of the arrival of their Royal Majesties will be performed in the Castle by the pupils of the Conservatory and members of the Žofín Academy, is written by Joseph Beyer [Bayer] and composed by the Director of the Conservatory, J.F. Kittl.’ This source therefore suggested that the venue was changed for the first performance of this new work. The piece seems not to have been given during the procession along the Quay, as described by the earlier 21/5/1854 report. The fact that the Žofín Academy were not located at the same place as the Conservtory pupils indicates the piece was not performed there; the description of the procession by Der Tagesbote 5/6/1854 also gave no indication of its performance on the Quay. The Cantata when performed in the Castle was most likely directed by Kittl himself, who as the director of the Conservatory conducted most of the performances given by that institution.

Der Tagesbote 5/6/1854 published a detailed account of the proceedings of the events of 3rd June surrounding the state visit to Prague of the Emperor Franz Joseph. After describing the torchlit procession from the Klementinum to Prague Castle, the source noted that the carriage halted in the third courtyard of the Castle [the Georghof], and that the Emperor then addressed the gathering from a balcony there. In the centre of the gathering were the [pupils of the] Conservatory and the members of the Žofín Academy, in front of them choirboys and under the balcony the ‘Bürgermusik’. ‘
Bürgermusik’ was then performed, and following the ‘friendly thanks’ of the Emperor, the sounds ‘of human voices from the centre, ever stronger and stronger music, and then ever softer and ever more jubilant, but ending in their last syllables with exultant praise. The Cantata, as is known was written by Joseph Bayer and composed and directed by Kittl, was made up of three parts.’ The particular expressive impact of the work, especially in the third movement at the words ‘Ať žije! [Let live!]’, was thought to be particularly powerful. The Volkshymne closed the proceedings.

Mercy’s Anzeiger 16/5/1854 published that the members of the Žofín Academy and of the Cecilia Society will perform a cantata at the arrival of the carriage of ‘His Royal Apostolic Majesty [Sr. k. k. apost. Maj.] at the Castle on Hradčany.’ No further details were given by this source; whether the Cecilia Society actually participated in this event was not noted by later sources.


Summary of sources:

Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (16/05/1854)
Tagesbote aus Böhmen (21/05/1854)
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (25/05/1854)
Tagesbote aus Böhmen (31/05/1854)
Tagesbote aus Böhmen (02/06/1854)
Tagesbote aus Böhmen (05/06/1854)