• Prague Conservatory: participating institution, orch

An unsigned review of this event was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 20/1/1857. The correspondent reported that ‘Recently [Dieser Tage] there took place in the Rehearsal Hall of the Conservatory of Music under the leadership of Mr Director Kittl a curious and interesting production. It was the performance of works of compatriot A.T. Heinrich from Schönlinde [Krásná lípa], little known here, who has spent the greater part of his life in America in the state of Kentucky, and now as an old man has once again returned on a trip to his homeland. Despite his great age our amiable, busy wanderer still has a noble youthful sense for fantastic, grandiose adventure. What he has told us about the conception of his symphonies, which are partly fruits of his romantic solitary life in the New World, suggests programme music of the most adventurous type. In one of his symphonies he depicts the migration of the wild doves over the American prairies, and in another he portrays the fight of the condors with an eagle etc. Besides these works that are grounded in transatlantic nature-feelings; he has also written a symphony with the title „Moriamur pro rege nostra“ whose programme touches upon an Austrian-patriotic interest. Through the friendly goodwill of Mr Director Kittl just the first movement of this was performed. This tone-poem bears imprints of the self-taught [musician]. It has a curious mixture of brilliant colours and shows much of the wildness of solitary creativity. Yet, at the same time it has some surprising traits of bold originality, which evoked the interest of the musicians and connoisseurs attending this performance’.

The exact date of this event was not reported by the Mercy’s Anzeiger review. Described as being given on ‘This day [Dieser Tage]’ and not ‘gestern’ or ‘vorgestern’ the event record has been dated 17th January. No further details were given by this source.

Tagesbote aus Böhmen 17/1/1857 published a brief article on Heinrich [see database biographical note for Heinrich]. This ended with a note that ‘made possible by the friendly coviviality of Mr Kittl, this afternoon at 3 o’clock in the local Conservatory will be a performance of one of his [i.e. Heinrich’s] Oratorios.’ Whether the work to be performed was synonymnous with the tone poem described in the Mercy’s Anzeiger source cannot be ascertained from either source.