• HASERT, Rudolf: soloist, pf

Prager Morgenpost 14/3/1862 published an advertisement for this concert reporting: ‘Concert of Rudolph Hasert, Royal Danish Court pianist, Saturday 15th March 1862 at 5pm in the Konvikt Hall. Programme: First part, Beethoven, Great Sonata for the “Hammerklavier” op.106, a) Allegro con brio, b) Scherzo, c) Adagio sostenuto, d) Largo e Fuga a 3 voci. Schumann, Songs [Lieder] for soprano, sung by an amateur. Bach, a) Preludium à Fuga (C-sharp major à 3 voci), b) “Gigue”, c) “Gavotte” (D minor). Second part, Hasert, Fest-Polonaise. Liszt, Sonnamubla-Fantasie, Norwegian folksongs, sung by a dilettante. Hasert, Norwegian Fantasie-Variations. Hasert, Variations for the left hand on the theme “Casta Diva” from Norma. The grand piano is from the repository of Mr. V. Miko. Tickets in the Circle cost 2fl, in the Hall 1fl, and on the gallery 50kr, available from the art and music shop of Mr Joh. Hoffmann and on the day from the box office.’ The advertisement was repeated in the newspaper in the issue dated 15/3/1862.

The Národní listy 16/3/1862 review, signed ‘Zvř.’ [the Prague composer and teacher Zvonař], remarked that Rudolf Hasert, pianist to the Danish Court ‘proved to be a well-trained and cultured pianist. That he chose to perform Beethoven’s greatest sonata, op.106, testified to his being well sure of himself. But we cannot think why he played two bars of the Adagio on page 29 ([published by] Artaria in Vienna) in B major, [instead of B minor]. Perhaps he studied some incorrect edition. Mr Hasert also proved to have a great memory; he played all the pieces from his head. The amateur [lady] singer who took part did not achieve great success, although she sang interesting Norwegian national songs.’ This review of Hasert’s performance undoubtedly contained a degree of sarcasm. Referring to the soloist’s choice of Beethoven sonata the critic used the word ‘sebevědomí’. Aside from the positive meaning of this word as ‘self-confidence’ or ‘self-reliance’, ‘sebevědomí’ can also be used in the derogatory sense of ‘conceit’ or ‘self-importance’. In conjunction with the critic’s pointed comment about Hasert playing two bars of the second movement in the wrong key, the character of the review indicates that the periodical’s correspondent held a negative opinion of Hasert. This is also suggested by the relative brevity of the review, which neither specified the remainder of the programme, nor described in any detail the pianist’s performance style.

Substantial, detailed reviews of this concert were published by the German-language sources Bohemia 19/3/1862 and Prager Zeitung 18/3/1862. The latter identified the songs by Schumann that were performed. None of the specified sources for this concert named the anonymous ‘dilettante’ singer.