• Estates Theatre orchestra: participating orchestra
• BENNEWITZ, Antonín: soloist, vl

Prager Zeitung 18/4/1861 published a review, signed ‘!!’, relating that ‘Mr Bennewitz yesterday [gestern - actually, the concert took place on the 15th] gave before his definitive departure to the Mozarteum at Salzburg a Farewell-Concert, the extraordinarily numerous attendance of which demonstrated the affection of Praguers for this artist.’ His loss would be felt particularly in local benefit concerts, in which he often participated. ‘The merit of the concert-giver as a violinist has been outlined in detail in these pages. He especially captivated in the performance of a concerto by Spohr, an Étude by Mildner and in duets by Schumann, in the last of which the the piano part was  performed by Mr Rozkošný. Miss Mik [Miková] supported the concert-giver through the expressive performance of three songs. In addition, Mr Rozkošný played skilfully a March of his own composition. The concert was opened with the Overture to Coriolan by Beethoven, which the members of the [Estates] Theatre orchestra played quite precisely and fervently.’

The brief Dalibor 20/4/1861 review, signed ‘E.’, also noted that Antonín Benevic [Bennewitz] was about to leave Prague in order to take up the position of concert master of the Mozarteum in Salzburg. The report made no mention of the violinist’s own performance in this concert, or his reception by the ‘ample’ audience. However, in marked contrast with the Prager Zeitung correspondent, the Czech periodical did criticize the Estates Theatre orchestra for its performance of Beethoven’s Coriolan, commenting that ‘we missed not only nuance, but also precision; to the ’cellists it made no difference if g# or g was written.’ The songs performed by Miss Emilie Miková were accompanied by Bennewitz, although the reviewer did not specify whether the accompanying instrument was the violin or piano, or whether the songs were scored for voice and piano with obbligato violin part.

The two sources contained slightly differing descriptions of the works performed. Prager Zeitung 18/4/1861 reported that the programme included ‘a Concerto by Spohr, a study by Mildner and Duets by Schumann, in which in the latter Mr Rozkošný took the piano part... 3 songs... a March [for piano] by Rozkošny... Overture to Coriolan.’ Dalibor related that of the works being performed, the concert-giver ‘played things by Spohr, Mildner and Vieuxtemps, and one insipid Duo by Schubert with Mr Rozkošný. The latter entertained us at the piano with two of his own compositions. The concert was opened with the Overture to Coriolan by Beethoven.’ The event record combines details from both sources but arbitrarily identifies the duo as by Schubert.