• ensemble of the Infantry Regiment of Baron Alemann: participating ensemble

Mercy’s Anzeiger 3/1/1857 published news that ‘This year there will take place 5 noble Society Balls [adelige Societätsbälle] in the Žofín Hall.’ The dates of these events were then specified. No further details were given by this source. On 13th January Mercy’s Anzeiger reported that the performance of dance pieces at the noble Society Balls on the Žofín Island was to be given by the musical ensemble of the Royal Warranted Prague Civil Sharpshooters Corps. Two days later on 15th January the same newspaper briefly reported that the first Society Ball had taken place on the night before last in the Hall on Žofín Island.

The German-language Prague newspaper Tagesbote aus Böhmen 14/1/1857 related in its section of daily news that ‘This evening takes place in the Hall of Žofín Island the first noble [adelige] Society Ball [Societätsball], which will be follwed by 5 more.’

A brief review was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 16/1/1857 describing the event of the ‘Vereinsball [Society Ball]’ taking place the ‘day before yesterday’. The likelihood is that this report related to the first of the ‘noble Society Balls’ previously reported by the newspaper. The correspondent remarked ‘When stated that the Society Ball (which took place the day before yesterday) fell worthily into the same class as the Festival Balls of this society in previous years, everybody remembering this elegance from their own recollection has to admit that this is not simply a figure of speech... [The] members of the committee, who directed the decoration of the hall and the arrangements, deserved full recognition. The decoration of the dancing hall was made up of draperies of white and rose-red cloth. Flowers and bushes were placed in the window alcoves. The spaces underneath the orchestra and the gallery were furnished with a white drapery decorated with flowers. Also the small hall, which contained the buffet, was tastefully garnished with living plants and bushes. The porch and the stairs to the dining rooms and the gallery had their usual friendly decoration of shrubs and rare plants, which opened the view to big mirrors on the landings. To justify still further what we have said about the praiseworthy circumspection and the enthusiasm of the committee members, we emphasize the extraordinary extent to which people took part in the dancing, as the committee ensured exemplary orderliness despite the high attendance. Everybody present, the great number of charming ladies in their graceful outfits (a more detailed description would be beyond the scope of this article), therefore enjoyed the finest entertainment. His Excellency, the governor Freiherr von Mescéry, his Serene Highness Prince Rohan, his Excellency the Count Schlik [Šlik], Imperial General of the Cavalry, many members of the high aristocracy, the Imperial generals, many notaries and nobilities honoured the festival with their attendance. – The execution of the musical pieces by the band of the imperial-royal infantry regent Baron Allemann [Alemann] was very laudable. Although the venue was not mentioned by name, this review’s description of the hall with a gallery and a smaller adjoining hall corresponds with the character of the Žofín Hall. The only difference between the review and earlier sources was that the orchestra was not that of the Sharpshooters Corps but of the ensemble of the Royal Infantry Regiment of Baron Allemann. However, such changes of ensemble from what may have been previously advertised were not uncommon.

A more prosaic commentary upon this event appeared in Tagesbote aus Böhmen 15/1/1857. The unsigned correspondent mused: ‘Even now, as we are writing this, this year’s Society Ball [Vereinsball] may be considered the most interesting of the season. Although the attendance was this time not so numerous as in the previous years,  the atmosphere and dance-spirit [Tanzfreudigkeit] was more lively and vivid than usual.’ The text then went on to comment largely upon the startling effect of this year’s ladies fashions, specifically the ‘delicate grace’ of the head-dress accentuating the shape of the head and allowing a more open neck. The correspondent complimented the decoration of the smaller dance hall and of the Ladies Room, and concluded the account with a note that attending, as every year, were ‘notables’ of the city.