• unspecified male chorus: participating ensemble, vv

Národní listy 11/11/1862 published news that this fourth autumn beseda was to take place on 13/11/1862 and not on 12/11/1862 as originally recorded in the notice published by the beseda committee in Národní listy 22/10/1862. The latter notice recorded that: ‘National besedas [Národní besedy] 23rd and 30th October, 5th, 12th, 20th and 27th November 1862 all at 7.30pm. Admission tickets for gentlemen obtained in the national bookshop of Mr Petřík in the New Alley [Nový Alej] nr 117-II. [Signed] Committee.’

This event included the first public performance of a new salon dance, the Beseda, composed by Ferdinand Heller, a description of which appeared in a review of the work published in Národní listy 12/11/1862. This noted that the dance, for 4 sets of 16 couples, was made up of 4 parts, each of which was divided into two sections. Characteristics of national dances, including the Polka, Sousedská, Furiant and Hulán were said to be incorporated into the piece.

A detailed description of this event was published by Národní listy 13/11/1862. This reported that the ‘Fourth autumn beseda takes place today in the Konvikt Hall at 7.30pm.’ The programme was then listed in detail, the works being given in the first part were largely identified, of the second part comprising a dance entertainment only Heller’s ‘new Czech salon dance Beseda’ was listed. Following the first item of the programme a poem by G. Pfleger Moravský was recorded as being read by Miss Arnoštka Libická, a member of the Czech Theatre. As with previous reports and notices covering earlier events in this series, the source noted that admission tickets could be obtained from the bookshop of Mr Petřík.

Neither the male-voice chorus singing in the first part of thie event, nor the ensemble performing the dances were identified by the specified sources. The Národní listy 13/11/1862 listing of the programme noted that Miss Libická was a member of the Czech Theatre and Mr Švarc were member of the Czech Opera. Unusually for the Czech-language newspaper Švarc was spelt in the German form of ‘Scharwz’.

A detailed, unsigned, review was published by Lumír 20/11/1862. This reported that ‘Unusually numerous was the attendance of the beseda in the Konvikt [Hall] on 13 November, the reason for which was certainly the new dance Beseda, being given in public for the first time. It is made up entirely of different older folk dances, which Mr Heller has worked in music and the dancing master Mr Link in various steps. The best-known of the dances were such as the Kalamajka, Furiant, Obkorčák, Hulán, Rejdovák etc. With hugely tense excitement the public awaited this novelty; when 24 chosen couples began to dance each section [i.e. dance section] it was punctuated with stormy applause, mainly honouring Messrs Heller and Link, after which the dance master was hoisted aloft and carried around the Hall. Beseda thus celebrated its triumph and therefore it is possible to hope that it will soon surplant the banal French quadrilles [being given]. On this occasion the remainder of the programme and the concert part [of the event] was interesting. Miss Pisařovicová very successfully performed some songs, accompanied by her father on the clarinet, then Miss Libická gave a declamation with similar success. Mr Švarc also sang to us again with his sonorous voice some of our songs like Porodila mne moje matička, and Miss Alizarová played very artistically some variations at the piano. The remainder then comprised a chorus beginning the concert part and afterwards a successful vocal quartet. All received noisy applause. Among other important guests present at the beseda was our celebrated Palacký.’