Mercy’s Anzeiger 15/10/1854 reported that ‘In its first concert of this year, in November. the Cecilia Society will perform Mendelssohn’s Athalia’. No further details of the event were given by the source. This newspaper next published information of this event on 14/11/1854 in a brief report relating: ‘The first concert of the Cecilian Society [Cäcilien-Vereins] in this season, in which Mendelssohn’s Athalia is scheduled for performance, takes place on 19th November at 12.15pm in the Žofín Island Hall. The solo parts have been assumed with particular courtesy by Mrs Botschon-Soukup [Botschon-Soukupová], Miss Weiss and Miss Scheifler, as well as the declamation by Mr Fischer.’

Advance news of the first of the annual concerts to be given by Cecilia Society appeared in the German-language newspaper Der Tagesbote on 14/11/1854. The source reported the date, time and venue of the event, the work to be performed and the participating soloists, who included the narrator Mr Fischer.

Der Tagesbote 21/11/1854 published a review of this concert, reporting that the Cecilia Society could not have opened its season of concerts ‘in a more worthy and beautiful fashion than with a masterful performance of a masterpiece: Athalia by Mendelssohn. With the accomplishments of the Society already very creditable and not infrequently admirable, we may only reasonably hope to now be free of almost the only defect that on occasions has affected the sterling quality of its productions,  through the untiring effors of Mr Apt in succeeding to secure the permanent participation of the wind instruments of the [Estates] Theatre orchestra. It seems totally justifiable to class the overall performance as masterly, in the truly artistic manner with which the new [wind] parts were taken, with the really plentiful body of chorus and strings (there was literally no empty space on the platform), at the accuracy [of performance], at the thorough rehearsal, and in the brilliant casting of the two solo parts with Mrs Botschon [Botschon-Soukupová] (soprano) and Miss Weiß [Weissová] (alto). Also as second soprano Miss Scheifter collaborated very meritoriously, and only the circumstance (particularly in the wonderfully beautiful female terzetto), that several times she was too quiet placed her in the shade of the two other [soli]. ’ Mr Fischer gave the declamations with his ‘powerfully sonorous voice’. The applause of the ‘very full hall accompanied the performance to the end.’ Finally, the source briefly commented upon the growing recognition of the public of the suitability of Apt to direct opera.

A brief review, signed ‘-š.’, was published by the Czech-language Lumír 21/11/1854. This correspondent reported: ‘On Sunday 19th the Cecilian Society gave an excellent and interesting composition, namely Mendelssohn’s Athalie. This biblical subject, which Poiszl utilised in an opera of the same name, was worked by the celebrated poet Racine in Classical tragedy, its choruses already being set to music in the year 1786 by the German composer Schulz and in the modern age by the masterful composer Mendelssohn. The performance of this extensive composition was impeccable and all praise is due to the experienced director Mr Apt, to Mrs Bočon née Soukupová, and to Mr Fischer. The performance of the Overture, in which two motives dominate, one passionate [náruživý - passionate, intense, impassioned], the other tender [něžný], was refined, demonstrating that circumspect direction knows how to unite disparate forces into a harmonious whole [obezřelost ředitelova spoustu protivných sobě sil spojiti a v harmonický celek uvésti umí]. The singing of all the members was laudable and received by the numerous audience with vociferous applause.’ The comment by the critic of Apt’s direction uniting seemingly disparate forces may perhaps have constituted an oblique comment about uniting the varying standards of the Cecilia Society’s amateur as well as professional members.