• unspecified orchestra of Karel Komzák: participating orchestra
• KOMZÁK, Karel: director of ensemble, conductor

Prager Zeitung 7/3/1861 reported that ‘Next Saturday [9/3/1861] at 4.30pm will take place in the Hall of Žofín Island a musical-declamatory Academy for the benefit of the Institute for the Accommodation and Employment of Adult Blind in Bohemia.’ The participating soloists and the programme were listed in performance order. Evidently the Academy did not take place on that day. Prager Morgenpost and Prager Zeitung 13/3/1861 both published news that the musical and declamatory Academy for the benefit of the Seminary Institute for Adult Blind, which had been scheduled to take place on 9th March, was now to be given on 13th March at 4.30pm in the Žofín Island Hall.

Reviews of this event were published by both Prager Morgenpost and Prager Zeitung, The latter, published on 16th March and signed ‘!!’, reported that the ‘concert... had in its programme a mixed mosaic of compositions by Wallace, Schubert, Saphir, Prudent, Dupont and Schulhoff, constituting a quite amicable juxtaposition. Glimmering within this were the gemstones of the performances by the ladieas Burggraf [Burgrafová], Lucca and Čermak [Čermáková]. Particularly interesting to us was the last[-named] performing the piece “Airs Bohemiens” by Schulhoff. Miss Wilhelmine Čermak [Čermáková], the sole Prague pianist who soars above the technical difficulties [of the work], and through her just as individual as spirited performance of these alluring salon-compositions puts to shame the pupils of the local Institutes with [their] mechanical playing. In the Concert-Galop by A.D. (if we are not mistaken, the score is by the composer August Dupont), the young lady displayed all types of modern bravura. Alongside her Miss Lucca appeared as a charming singer and Mrs Burggraf as a spirited speaker. In place of Mr Bachmann, Mr Nachbauer sang two songs. We also heard My Nejedlý on the violin and Mr Blaha on the flügelhorn. Of orchestral works, the concert was prefaced by the Overture to Maritana by Wallace and, oddly enough, that in E [major] to Beethoven’s Fidelio to close. Both were executed precisely by the Civil-Orchestra of Mr Komsak [Komzák]. The audience was quite numerous, but not very animated.’

The Prager Morgenpost reviewer, signed ‘**’, remarked that several established artists were participating in this concert, therefore the programme was very varied. ‘The opening and ending was given by the well-trained Civil-Orchestra under the direction of Kapellmeister Mr Komsak [Komzák], precisely performing the overtures to „Maritana“ by Wallau [Wallace] and to „Fidelio“ (in E-major) by Beethoven. Mrs Burggraf declaimed two poems „Brief an den lieben Gott“ and „gute Nacht“, and caused particular amusement through her whimsical performance. Miss Lucca sand Schubert’s Lied „Lob der Thräne“. Miss Czermak [Čermáková] played on the piano Schulhoff’s „Fantasie über böhmische Volkslieder“, then a somewhat banal galop by A.D., and particularly in the first demonstrated her already well-known virtuosity. Another piano piece „Fantasie nach Beethoven“ was performed with particular accuracy and skill by Mr Jul. Nejedly [Nejedlý], a pupil of the Institute for the Blind. Mr Nachbauer sang Schubert’s „am Meere“ and Mendelssohn’s „Frühlingslied“ in B-flat major with real understanding. We also heard Variations on a theme from the opera „Anna Bolena“ by Donizetti, performed with great bravura on the flügelhorn of Mr Ph. Blaha, pupil of the Prague Conservatory. The individual soloists received applause from the numerous audience and were curtain-called.’

The programme is reproduced in the event record in the order noted by the Prager Zeitung 7/3/1861 text with the two songs give by Nachbauer substituted for the projected appearance of Mr Bachmann.