• BENNEWITZ, Antonín: soloist, vl
• BAUER, Vilém: soloist, vl
• PAULUS, Alfred: soloist, va
• GOLTERMANN, Julius: soloist, vc

Bohemia 29/11/1860 published news that ‘This afternoon at 4.30 takes place the first Quartet Soirée of Messrs Bennewitz, Bauer, Paulus and Goltermann.’ The works they were to perform were listed, but the venue was unspecified. In the same issue of the newspaper the Tageskalender noted: ‘4.30pm in the Žofín Island Hall Quartet-Soirée of Messrs Bennewitz, Bauer, Pulus and Prof. Goltermann.’

An unsigned review of this concert was published by Prager Zeitung 1/12/1860. The correspondent remarked: ‘The first quartet soirée by Messrs Bennewitz, Weber, Paulus and Prof. Goltermann was greeted with joy by our music lovers. The concert began with a quartet in D major by Fesca. With the quartets of recent times - particularly those of the later Beethoven - we have grown so accustomed to the deepest and boldest outpourings of the masters in this art form that the harmless geniality of Fesca’s quartet, or what might better be termed jollity, was almost strange to us. The entire quartet stays lightly on the surface, the unaffectedness of the motifs and phrases would only be praiseworthy if it did not sometimes border strongly on the trivial. All the same, it is inwardly healthy music, the work of an estimable musician, of a type that recalls a light, unadulterated table wine among fine vintages. The Trio op.9 no.3 in C minor by Beethoven (not with piano but rather for viola, violin and cello) is, in brief, to be termed a musical jewel, of high beauty and urgent power in its themes, masterful in elaboration. The choice of this rarely-heard piece deserves most particular gratitude, and won the approval of the audience to the highest degree. The finale consisted of Schubert’s teeming, superb D minor quartet. The performance was equally studious and masterful in all three numbers and the applause appropriate to what was called for.’