• Piano Institute of Bedřich Šimák: pupil(s) of institute, pf
• BLAŽKOVÁ, Věkoslava Aloisie: soloist, v

The Czech-language periodical Lumír 12/3/1859 reported that ‘Mr Bedřich Šimák, director of musical institute in the Little Quarter, is arranging on 15th and 29th March two evening musical entertainments [dvě večerní hudební zábavy], in which will also participate the talented singer Miss Věkoslava Blažková, pupil of professor Vogl. Pupils of the institute will in addition to various ensemble pieces for four pianos also play solo pieces by the eminent Ladislav Dušek, Tomášk, Kittle, Alexander Dreyšok [Dreyschock] and Henselt.’ No further details were given by the source.

Mercy’s Anzeiger 13/3/1857 reported that ‘Mr Fried. Schimak [Bed. Šimák], Musical-Institute Principal in the Little Quarter arranges during this year’s Lent on 15th and 29th March at 5pm two „Soirées musicales“, in which the G minor Sonata of L. Dussek and pieces by Tomaschek [Tomášek], Kittl, Mendelssohn and others will be performed by the pupils.’ A similar report, differing only in the stated time of the event, appeared in Tagesbote aus Böhmen 13/3/1857: ‘Mr Fried. Schimak, head of a Music Institute in the Little Quarter, is arranging in this year’s Lenten season on 15th and 29th March, both at 3pm, two „Soirés musicales“ [Soirées musicales], in which will ber performed by pupils the G minor Sonata by L. Dussek and pieces by W. Tomaschek, Kittle, Mendelssohn and others.’

A review, signed ‘-š.’, of this ‘hudební večerní zábava [musical soirée]’ was published by Lumír of the 19/3/1857. After relating the date of the event and the venue, the correspondent remarked that the soirée was ‘received with great favour and fitting acknowledgement by the numerous audience.’ The performances given by the pupils was considered ‘to have given fresh evidence’‘excellent’ teaching methods and that the director and his teachers were ‘soundly learned... Among the pupils especially excelled Mr J. Šourek, very deftly performing Tomášek’s Eklog, and Miss V. Gintarová, who rendered Kittl’s Zefyra very gracefully. Finally we heard the young singer Věkoslava Blažková, pupil of Professor Vogl. She sang a Spring Song by Mendelssohn and Holubice by F. Laub, in the latter with a performance distinguished in being particularly full of beautiful expression. Her voice is great in range, excells not only in the low but also in the high [registers], and is full and sonorous. The impact of both songs was great, and would have been much more magnificent if the full hall and excessive heat hd not been to the detriment of her voice.’ The correspondent concluded with the remark that the director [Šimák] could expect still more favourable success if his institute were to continue being so successful.