Venue: Konvikt
Event type: Art music culture
Date: 12/12/1861 5pm
Season: Advent
Národní listy 11/12/1861 noted that Jan Becker was Kapellmeister at the Imperial court in Baden, and Monari-Rocca was a singer [baritone] at the opera house of La Scala, Milan. No specific details of the programmes of the concert appearances given in Prague by this pair during December 1861 were published by Národní listy, the 11/12/1861 report by the newspaper only described the programme of the ‘second and final’ concert given by these artists, on 12/12/1861, as ‘very interesting’. The unsigned Dalibor 20/12/1861 review did not describe the individual concerts given by these two soloists, but was more generalized in its coverage of their performances, noting that Becker and Monari-Rocca ‘arranged 3 concerts here, of which the last two were abundantly attended. Mr Becker is a well-known violin virtuoso; he plays classic and modern compositions spiritedly, with the greatest precision and nuance, and is always certain of success. We heard from him compositions that require the greatest bravura, for example, [works] by N. Paganini, Antonio Bazzini, by Seb. Bach (Chaconne [from Partita, vl, no.4, D min., BWV1004]), and he performed all with the greatest certainty and clarity. His colleague Mr Monari-Rocca is a cultured singer, and although his voice is not great it stands out for its excellent and universally refined skill. He sang mainly arias by Italian masters and duets with Miss Brennerová. Miss Vilemína Čermáková also participated in the concerts, and testified to her magnificent [pianistic] ability. Both concert-givers [Becker and Monari-Rocca] always gained copious applause.’ Four performances were in fact given by Becker and Monari-Rocca in Prague during December 1861, on 5/12, 7/12, 12/12 and 16/12. The second appearance on 7/12 was at a musical soirée arranged by the musical wing of the Umělecká beseda (Artistic Society). The so-called ‘second and final’ concert given on 12th December was followed by a further concert in the Konvikt Hall on 16th after, according to Prager Morgenpost 14/12/1861, Becker postponed his departure to Prague from Frankfurt.
Prager Morgenpost 11/12/1861 reported the date, time, venue and the complete programme and participants to the ‘second and last concert of Messrs Jean Becker and J. Monari-Rocca’.