Prague Concert Life, 1850-1881

Event title:

Soirée musicale [Concert] given by clarinettist Julius Pisařowitz [Pisařovic]

Venue: Konvikt

Event type: Art music culture

Date: 14/12/1854 5pm

Season: Advent

Benefactor: Pisařovic,Julius

Programme including:

arr. Beethoven, Ludwig van: Trio, arr. of Septet, op.20 , pf, cl/vl, vc
     • Pisařovicová, Marie : pf Pisařovic, Julius : cl Goltermann, Julius : vc
SCHUBERT, Franz Peter : song Die Erstarrung no.4 from song cycle Winterreise, v, pf, D911
     • Reichel, Josef :
RUMMEL, Christian : Fantasie for clarinet and piano after Beethoven concert aria Ah perfido!, cl, pf, op.77
     • Pisařovic, Julius : cl Fischer, Karl : pf
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY, Felix : song Es weiss und rät es doch Keiner no.6 of 6 songs [Sechs Lieder], v, pf, op.99
     • Meyer, Marie Louise : v
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY, Felix : unspecified Lied Venetianisches Gondellied, v, pf
     • Meyer, Marie Louise : v
ŠLIKOVÁ, Eliška, Hraběnka : song Reiterlied, v, pf
     • Reichel, Josef : v
MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY, Felix : song Es weiss und rät es doch Keiner no.6 of 6 songs [Sechs Lieder], v, pf, op.99
MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus : Clarinet Quintet, cl, 2vl, va, vc, A major, K581
     • Pisařovic, Julius : cl Königslöw, Otto von : vl Weber, Jan : vl Paulus, Alfred : va Goltermann, Julius : vc

Commentary:

Advance news of this event was published by Der Tagesbote 10/12/1854, which reported that ‘Prof. Pisařowitz [Pisařovic] is giving in the Konvikt Hall next Thursday 14th December a Soirée musicale. The proven reputation of the esteemed artist, the rich programme, and the participation of Misses Lechner [Lechnerová], Meyer and Pisařowitz [Pisařowicová], as well as Messrs Prof. Goltermann. von Königslöw, Paulus, Weber and C. Fischer, promises a very interesting evening.’ A more detailed report was published on the same day, 10/12/1854, by Mercy’s Anzeiger. This announced ‘Mr Julius Pisařowitz, Professor at the Prague Conservatorium, arranges on Thursday 14th December at 5pm in the Konvikt Hall a Soirée musicale, for which the following programme will be scheduled: Grand-Trio (E-flat major) for pianoforte, clarinet and violoncello, after the Septuor composé par Louis van Beethoven (Allegro, Adagio et Presto), performed by Marie Pisařowitz [Pisařovicová], Prof. Goltermann and the concert-giver. - Declamation by Miss Adèle Lechner. - „Erstarrung“. Lied by Fr. Schubert, sung the by Mr Reichel. - Fantaisie pour Clarinette et Piano sur la scène et l’air (Ah perfido Sperguino etc.) du Louis van Beethoven composé par Ch. Rummel, performed by the concert-giver and Mr C. Fischer. - Es weiß und räth es doch Keiner“, Venetianisches Gondellied by F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, performed by Miss Louise Mayer (Mayerová). - Des Reiters Abschied“ Lied by E. Countess von Schlik, sung by Mr Reichel. - Quintetto pour Clarinette, deux Violons, Alto et Violoncelle par W.A. Mozart, performed by the concert-giver, and the Messrs Otto von Königslöw, Weber, Paulus and Prof. Goltermann.’

News of this event, describing it as a ‘great concert’ appeared in the Czech-language periodical Lumír 12/12/1854. The correspondent reported that on ‘14th December Mr Pisařovic, excellent clarinetist at the local theatre and Professor in the Conservatory of Music, arranges a great concert in the Konvikt [Hall], in which will be participating Misses Marie Pisařovicová, Lechnerová and Mayerová [Meyer], then Messrs Reichel, Goltermann, Fischer, Königslöv [von Königslöw], Paulus and Weber. The programme promises much.’


A brief, unsigned review of this event was published by Der Tagesbote 15/12/1854. The text was notable for providing an insight into the tastes of the concert-going Prague public. ‘Pleasant evidence of the tasteful sensibility of our public, which only a short while ago seemed to appreciate musical piquanterie, was to be found in concert programmes that almost exclusively comprised dignified musical compositions. Such was yesterday’s Soirée musicale given by Professor Pisařowitz. All the ensemble pieces of this pleasurable evening from the very first Allegro were played with great precision, and the performance of the Mozart Quintet, the second movement of which had to be repeated, was masterful. However, it is undeniable that the effect of the Grand-Trio (an arrangement of the familiar Septet), was greatly diminished in that there were only three instruments [evidently the reviewer was comparing the effect of the work to that of the original Septet version].’ The effectiveness of the performance of Miss Meyer was highly commended and noted to have been received with vociferous applause.

A review, signed ‘-s.’, was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 15/12/1854. The correspondent related ‘Yesterday Prof. J. Pisařowitz gave in the Konvikt Hall a well-attended concert. We heard to start with the first, second and last movements from Beethoven’s Septour arranged for piano, clarinet and ’cello, in which participated the concert-giver’s daughter on the piano and Prof. Goltermann on ’cello. Mr Pisařowitz then gave as the 4th number a Fantasie for clarinet on the great aria from Fidelio, in which he was very elegantly accompanied by Mr Fischer at the pianoforte. Then the concert-giver participated in the E-flat Quintet by Mozart, which we also heard recently in a Quartet Soirée. He earnt vociferous applause and curtain-calls for all of his performances through the power, delicacy and mellowness of his tone. He played with particular beauty in the Adagio of the Mozart piece, which on general wishes was encored. The other parts were performed by Mr von Königslöw, Prof. Goltermann, Paulus and Weber. The young Marie Pisařowitz  testified to be a promising pianist. As interpolations Miss Meyer and Mr Reichel performed Lieder, then a declamation [was given] by Miss Lechner [Lechnerová], these pieces themselves gaining simmilar approbation.’  

The programme is listed in order corresponding with the
Mercy’s Anzeiger 10/12/1854 report, most likely representing the order in which the works were performed.


Summary of sources:

Tagesbote aus Böhmen (10/12/1854)
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (10/12/1854)
Lumír (12/12/1854)
Tagesbote aus Böhmen (15/12/1854)
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (15/12/1854)