Mercy’s Anzeiger 2/12/1854 reported that Messrs von Königslöw, Paulus, Weber and Goltermann, ‘whose quartet soirées had attracted many friends of music, would be arranging on the day of the birthday of Beethoven, 17th December, a festival on which would be performed compositions by Beethoven. This Beethoven festival will take place in the Konvikt Hall’. A numerous audience was expected. On 10/12/1854 the newspaper published further details about this event, reporting that ‘Beethoven’s birthday, the 17th December, will, as we have already reported, in this year in Prague will be celebrated in worthy fashion. At the matinée arranged for that day by the violin virtuoso Mr v. Königslöw, will compositions solely by tha great Tone-poet, namely there will be given the Quartet op.18, the Kreutzer Sonata for piano and violin (in which Mr Smetana undertakes the piano part), then the great Septet (with the participation of Messrs Goltermann, Groß, Hrabě, Janotka [Janatka] jnr, Paukus and Pisařowitz [Pisařovic].’ Which of the op.18 quartets was to be performed was not specified.

Mercy’s Anzeiger 18/12/1854 published a review, signed ‘-s.’, of this event. The critic reported that ‘The matinée taking place in the Konvikt Hall on the 17th of this month for the birthday of Beethoven was a splendid act of piety and the most worthy apotheosis in the name of the Immortal master. Through the arrangement of this event not only the splendid artist von Königslöw but also his participating native [of our country] colleagues will remain etched in the memory of our friends of music. Performed were only Beethoven’s compositions, namely the Quartet nr.4 op.18 in C minor, then the Sonata for piano and violin op.47 in A minor, and ending with the great Septet op.20 in E-flat, in a so spirited performance of such consummate art through and through, that it is inappropriate to refer to individual details. The enthusiasm of the public, whose attendance it is to be regretted was sparse, was not as the occasion deserved. Enthusiasm reached its peak following the second - which had to be repeated - Scherzo of the last piece. The individual artists: the Messrs Königslöw, Weber, Paulus, Goltermann, Pisařowitz, Groß, Janotka [Janatka] jun. and Hrabie [Hrabě] vied together in beautiful playing. Likewise the Music Institute Director Mr Smetana executed the piano part in the Sonata with consummate artistry. With this matinée Mr Königslöw concluded the most brilliant of his artistic activities in our capital.’ The correspondent noted that Königslöw deserved the thanks of all friends of music and hoped that his contribution to the local concert season would be repeated.’

A review, signed ‘J.H.’, of this concert was published by Der Tagesbote 19/12/1854; the newspaper had not previously announced the event. The correspondent reported that attending was a ‘very select elite of friends of art, who gathered together despite the awful weather, to celebrate this unalloyed genius.’ The programme and participants were listed, and the works were noted to have been played ‘with real mastery and true artistic intent.’ Enthusiastic applause was said to often interrupt the performances and many of the movements had to be encored. The correspondent therefore expressed considerable thanks to the artists for such a long concert. Of particular note was said to be the playing in the Variation in B minor and the Scherzo of the Septet ‘with the wonderfully lyrical Declaration d’amour’ played by Goltermann. Königslöw was especially thanked ‘for the beautiful and worthy idea of this Beethoven celebration ... as also in providing us with the opportunity of hearing the admirable playing of Mr Smetana, which once again delighted us.’

On the same day as the Der Tagesbote review, 19/12/1854, an account of this event was published by the Czech-language arts and literature periodical Lumír. The unsigned correspondent remarked that ‘On Sunday was given in Prague an unusual musical treat. It was the day of the birth of the famous Beethoven. The wonderful violinist Mr Königslöw to celebrate this day arranged a musical academy. Opening was a Quartet by Beethoven excellently performed by Messrs Königslöw, Weber, Paulus and Goltermann. Then followed the superb great septet which Messrs Königslöw, Goltermann, Janatka, Pisařovic, Gross, Hrabě and Paulus performed with complete mastery. Then the famed Kreutzer Sonata for violin and piano (Messrs Königslöw and Smetana) similarly enchanted the audience. The masterly performance of these compositions was as a whole and in individual details entirely excellent. Mr Königslöw, who was a guest here could not have made a more distinguished farewell to Prague than his arrangement of this fine musical entertainment. And the audience? It was not so numerous as we would have expected.’

The arrangement of this event by Königslöw was praised again by Lumír in its issue dated 4/1/1854. The correspondent pointedly drew attention to the fact that it had taken an foreign artist to put together an event for the memory of Beethoven. ‘For a long time there has been no foreign virtuoso favoured in Prague in such measure as Mr Otto z Königslövu [von Königslöw], who is tarrying here for a further period and in concerts and in the salons gaining a celebrated reputation as an elegant violinist. This welcome guest arranged a particular type of entertainment not long ago with a great musical festival to honour the memory of Beethoven, [a festival] as we have unfortunately not heard from the time the Žofín Academy and Jelen [its dorector] prepared one such [event] pitifully, and for which we not must thank Königslöv, a foreigner.’ The report then proceeded to give details of a further concert geing given by the violinist on 6th January 1855.