• SEELING, Jan: soloist, pf

The Tageskalender of Bohemia 28/10/1860 noted ‘Sunday 28th October. 12 noon in the Konvikt Hall, concert of Mr Hanns Seeling.’

Seeling’s performance in the second of his two Prague concerts was less well received by the audience than had been the case at his first concert of 18/10/1860. The reviewer, Eduard Nápravník, noted that the pianist’s ‘clean and flexible playing would have certainly aroused more enthusiasm in the audience if his touch had had greater strength.’ His compositions gained a mixed review. The Allegro in D minor and the Scherzo capriccioso were thought to be ‘distinguished by their originality, and by their artistically contrived ideas in one aesthetic whole.’ Concerning his other works, Nápravník noted ‘it is not possible for us to overlook the fact that [the] composer drew from other models. In the more extended pieces he draws from the spirit of Mendelssohn, and if we are not mistaken also from the severity of Tomášek, in the lesser compositions [he draws] from the [expressive style] of the great poets Henselt and Chopin.’ The review concluded with comments upon the performances of the two singers. For her ‘perceptive choice and ardent expression in performing songs Miss Miková is always guaranteed loud applause.’ Eduard Bachmann, the review noted, ‘would have pleased the audience more, if he had performed some beautiful Czech songs.’

A review of this concert was published by Prager Morgenpost 29/10/1860. The correspondent noted that Seeling performed only works of his own composition that were almost entirely new and not previously heard in Prague. ‘Of those that are new: the D minor Allegro, a quite proficient composition, the three very fine witty trifles Barcarole, Duo and Impromptu, then three brilliant Études, then the almospheric [and] very effective Fantasiestück on a motto of [the poet] A. Meißner, and ending with the Scherzo capricioso in G minor, the last named which could well be termed in its conception a sterling composition. In addition the concert giver played from his first concert the well-known “Idylle” and “Loreley.” His performance of all these pieces was, as of late, very tasteful and virtuosic; Mr Seeling gained great applause following each number and was curtain-called, in any case most of all he gave the best impression with his performance back here in his native city. Miss Mik [Miková] kindly supported the concert giver with the happy performance of Schubert’s “Taubenpost” and the very poetic Lied “das Mädchen an das ertse Schneeglöcken” by C.M. von Weber. Mr Bachmann sang two songs by Kapellmeister Jahn. Both participants received applause and were curtain-called. The concert attracted a numerous and refined audience. The piano played by Mr Seeling was a magnificent Streicher from Mr Fischer’s repository.’

The programme is listed in order corresponding with that of the Prager Morgenpost review, with added details from the Dalibor review text. A review of this concert, signed ‘V.’, not listing any compositions but describing in detail Seelings abilities and characteristics as a pianist, was published by Bohemia 30/10/1860.