• ensemble of Infantry Regiment of Count Jablonowsky: participating ensemble

Mercy’s Anzeiger 23/6/1854 published news that on Tuesday 27th June a ‘great Garden-Festival [große Garten-Fest]’ would take place in the Station Garden [Eisenbahngarten, also known as Hraba’s Restaurant]. ‘Mr Bendel has spared no expense to make this a magnificent evening. To close the Festival there will be given brilliant fireworks.’

On 26th June the newspaper gave further information about the occasion, announcing that ‘As we have already once before related,  there will take place on 27th June in the Station Garden a great Garden-Festival, in which event the renowned Pyrotechnician Mr J.F. Hawranek [Havránek] will effect a display that was shown in Kladruby before their Highnesses the Emperor Franz Joseph and the Empress Elizabeth... To conclude the lighting of imposing Bengal lights [fireworks?] will be accompanied by the musical ensemble of the Royal Infantry Regiment of Prince Jablonowsky playing the national anthem. We hope the weather will not disrupt this festival.’

The Vergnügungsanzeiger of Mercy’s Anzeiger 27/6/1854 announced ‘Today Tuesday: In [the] Station Garden [a] great Garden Festival, Fireworks, Music of the Royal Infantry Regiment Prince Jablonowsky’. Unfortunately, the event did not take place on 27th June, Mercy’s Anzeiger 28/6/1854 reporting that it was postponed due to unsettled weather. Instead it was to take place on 28th June providing the weather was better. The Vergnügungsanzeiger of Mercy’s Anzeiger 28/6/1854 then announced ‘Today Wednesday: In [the] Station Garden (in the case of better weather) [a] great Garden Festival, Fireworks, Music of the Royal Infantry Regiment Prince Jablonowsky’

A brief, unsigned review of this ‘Garden Festival’, confirming that it took place on 28th June, was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 1/7/1854. The correspondent reported that the event was ‘very numerously attended, and the firework-tableau arranged by Mr Hawranek [Havránek] was to the satisfaction of all those present. It is particularly fitting to mention the Kaiserrakete, which on high burst into the most beautiful bouquets of many colours.’ No mention was made of the musical content of the event.