Language Selection
Event title:
Concert given by pianist Vilemína Čermáková
Venue: Konvikt
Event type: Art music culture
Date: 15/12/1860 5pm
Season: Advent
Programme comprising:
- Estates Theatre orchestra: participating orchestra
- ČERMÁKOVÁ, Vilemína: soloist, pf
• Lucca, Paulina : v
• Bachmann, Eduard : v
• Lucca, Paulina : v Bachmann, Eduard : v
Commentary:
The correspondent ‘V.’ of the newspaper Bohemia 13/12/1860 reported that ‘On Saturday the young pianist Miss Wilhelmine Čermak [Vilemína Čermáková] gives a concert in the Konvikt Hall.’ The source commented that the event would undoubtedly be well-attended given the rare performance [bei uns selten ist] of a piano concerto with full orchestral accompaniment, and that Miss Čermák [Čermáková] had already several times been heard [performing here] with felicitous success.’ On 15/12/1860 Bohemia published the complete programme of this event, and in the same issue of the newspaper, the Tageskalender reported: ‘Saturday 15th December... 5 o’clock in the Konvikt Hall, Concert of Miss Czermak.’ A detailed review, signed ‘V.’, of the occasion was published by Bohemia 17/12/1860, drawing attention to the unusual power of her playing, her clarity of performance and ability to project all details of a composition. This source also mentioned that the performance also benefitted from the kind lending by Terschak [flautist, then visiting Prague and who gave two concerts that month, the second on 16th], for the occasion of a ‘sonorous, and in all registers even, grand piano.’
Brief advance news of this concert was given by Prager Zeitung 13/12/1860. The source noted that ‘On Saturday at 5pm the pianist Miss Wilhelmine Cžermak arranges in the Konvikt Hall a concert, in which among others will participate Miss Lucca.’ The newspaper then published a review, signed ‘!!’, on 18/12/1860, enthusing about the young pianist’s playing. Attention was drawn to the elegance and maturity of her performance of the Concerto in G minor, the F minor Fugue by Mendelssohn, and the Fantasie by Chopin. ‘To an amazing extent this delightful pianist combines daintiness with power. This was shown in the most striking light in the grandiose Polonaise Nr.2 by Fr. Liszt. She surmounted all the crags of technical difficulties with ease. A particularly high standard was her elasticity of touch imparting to her tone a pulsating life [verleiht ihren Tönen pulsirendes Leben].’ The correspondent noted that also participating were Miss Lucca, Mr Bachmann and the [Estates] Theatre Orchestra under the direction of Kapellmeister Jahn. ‘The Konvikt Hall was filled by the distinguished audience, who received each number with a storm of applause.’
Der Tagesbote 13/12/1860 also reported news of this event, noting ‘Concert. The pianist Miss Wilhelmine Czermak, who gave a concert in Prague two years ago to great success, arranges next Saturday 15th December at 5pm in the Konvikt Hall a concert. The concert-giver, a most accomplished [fertigsten] virtuoso of Dreyschock’s school, plays the splendid G minor Concerto by Mendelssohn with orchestra, a Fugue by the same composer, a “Fantaisie-Impromptu” by Chopin and a great Polonaise by Liszt. The popular members of our opera, Miss Lucca and Mr Bachmann will enrich this interesting concert through recitals of songs.’ A review, signed ‘-h.’, then appeared in the newspaper on 16th December. The correspondent remarked that ‘The pianist Miss Wilhelmine Czermak in her concert yesterday in the Konvikt Hall amassed an extraordinarily numerous and musically-educated audience... Brilliantly equipped with fresh vitality and technical facility the concertgiver seemed to us within the space of the two years since her last visit to prague not only to have gained in power but also in substance [Feile].’ The ‘G minor Concert-pieces [des G-moll Concertstücks]’ was thought to show the talent and ability of the pianist to the best effect, being considered not only of her teacher Dreyschock’s own bravura overcoming of the technical difficulties of the piece, but also revealed an ‘astonishing delicacy of nuance’ combined with great strength and energy. Besides in performing with orchestra, her ‘expert’ accomplishment was apparent too in works for solo piano, ranging from Mendelssohn’s F minor Fugue to Liszt’s Polonaise, the latter considered by the critic to be ‘over-laden with virtuosity’. The applause of the audience was reported to have been as vigorous for the supporting artists in the concert as for the concert-giver herself. ‘Mr Bachmann sang the well-known aria of Pylades from Gluck’s “Ifigenia”; [from] Miss Lucca... [was heard in place of the] angeräudigtem [mangy?] arie of “Antonina” from Belisar [Belisario] the charming “Garden-aria” of Susanna from Figarros Hochzeit [Le nozze di Figaro]. The opening of the in all respects select programme was the grandiose Fidelio Overture in C major, in which in the distant - and because of that almost indistinct - trumpet fanfare, in a concert performance where all things are equal, seemed like a mischievous face in the Hall.’ This last sentence, given the description of the piece including an off-stage trumpet fanfare (which is not in the Fidelio Overture) positively identified the work as one of the Leonore Overtures [either 2 or 3]. The cryptic last sentence of the review probably referred to the correspondent’s disatisfaction with the trumpet fanfare bein played in the hall, ‘like a mischievous face in the Hall [worin der in weite Entfernung verlegte, un dadurch fast undeutliche Trompetenstoß sich bei einer Concertaufführung allerdings ähnlich ausnahm, wie ein verschmitztes Gesicht im Salon].’
The Czech-language periodical Dalibor 20/12/1860 also published a review of this event. The performance of Vilemína Čermáková, the pupil of Alexander Dreyschock, was described enthusiastically by the unidentified critic, who noted that ‘Miss Čermáková is a gifted pianist; from the time we last heard her she has progressed immensely as a virtuoso in execution. Her touch is flexible and light, her strength in forte is astonishing, and her execution (that was previously lacking) full of feeling. Miss Čermáková surmounted technical difficulties with such facility and ease, as it is only possible to wish for. Her playing is balanced, polished and expressive, which she demonstrated especially in the Mendelssohn concerto.’
The programme is reproduced in performance order corresponding with the listing published by Bohemia 15/12/1860.
Summary of sources:
Bohemia (13/12/1860)Prager Zeitung (13/12/1860)
Tagesbote aus Böhmen (13/12/1860)
Bohemia (15/12/1860)
Bohemia (15/12/1860)
Prager Zeitung (16/12/1860)
Tagesbote aus Böhmen (16/12/1860)
Bohemia (17/12/1860)
Dalibor, hudební časopis s měsíční notovou přílohou (20/12/1860)