• unspecified orchestra of Karel Komzák: participating orchestra

The unsigned Dalibor 1/2/1861 review noted that the beseda was a ‘magnificent success’, with the occasion differing from previous years through the attendance of members of Prague’s aristocracy. The music performed was not stated by the review, although the programme undoubtedly contained works that had been presented at the beseda trial given on 17/1/1860. This source also reported that the committee responsible for the arrangement of the beseda had received much harsh criticism over its failure to send invitations to the event to certain important Czech ladies. These comprised individuals who, the review noted, were renowned in Prague society as Czech patriots, including the writer Božena Němcová, the wife of the poet K.J. Erben, the wife of the University’s Professor Tomek, and Miss Antonie Körschnerová director of the Prague Girls’ School. Of the ladies who attended, Dalibor remarked that many were dressed in [Czech] national colours. The Czech-language newspaper Národní listy 2/3/1861 reported that the clear profit from the beseda, to be donated to the fund for the erection of a memorial to Karel Havlíček, amounted to 203zl. This amount was revised to 204zl, according to a note published in Národní listy 12/3/1861.

An article about the impending National beseda to be held on 23 January and the musical rehearsal planned for 13 January also appeared in the ‘Daily News’ [Denní zpravý] section of Národní listy 8/1/1861. This interesting text consisted in the main of a protestation against the negative publicity the event obviously inspired among sections of the community unfavurable to the patriotic Czech movement of the time. The article stated ‘We use this opportunity to counter all manner of crooked tales which certain factions constantly scatter across Prague, that we may not in the beseda speak anything than Czech, that forbidden are tails as ball-dress and other [matters]. The Žofín beseda has always had and will have again this year a nationalist character, however the committee [shows itself as] being against all kind of presumption, that it would allow in the place of the entertainment any kind of language terrorism. We Czechs certainly never balk against genuine national equality of rights - but if only that were so too at the balls of other companies! This very equality of rights applies to fashions of dress.’ The text then went on to mention that these same comments were applicable to Czech besedas to be held in the Karlín inn At the Red Star later during January. ‘As we are aware, there will this year also be in Karlín in the hall „At the Red Star‟ Czech besedas, namely on 15 and 30 January, about which equally applies all we noted about the Žofín beseda.’

An advertisement to the beseda also appeared in Národní listy on 8/1/1861. This noted that ‘Tickets for gentlemen to the National beseda at Žofín on 23 January it is possible to obtain at the inn „u modré hvězdy‟ [at the blue star] at no.71 each day from 10 am until 1pm. The Committee.’ The same insert was published again i the newspaper on 15/1, 17/1, 19/1, 20/1, 22/1 and 23/1/1861. An advertisement had also appeared in the publication on 7/1/1861, identical to these later texts except stating ’Besedy’ instead of ’Národní beseda’. There can be little doubt this text was referring to the same event.

According to news published by Národní listy 25/1/1861 the profits to the event were to be donated towards the purchase of a memorial for the recently deceased Václav Hanka. However, the Daily News section of Národní listy 27/1/1861 reported that the profit from this year’s National beseda, over 200zl was destined for a tombstone for [Karel] Havliček. Interestingly this designation - ‘náhrobek Havlíčkův’ was evidently a late alteration to the newspaper text, the newsprint clearly altered from an earlier text, one which probably hitherto stipulated that the benefitting cause was to have been a memorial for the late Váceslav Hanka, as stipulated by the earlier report.