• Hlahol: participating institution, male vv
• LUKES, Jan Ludevít: director of ensemble, conductor

The Tagesprogramm published in Bohemia 10/11/1862 noted: ‘7 o’clock in the evening. In the Žofín Island Hall: Entertainment by „Hlahol”.’ The newspaper published a review of this entertainment on 12/11/1862. The correspondent, signed ‘V.’, related ‘(„Hlahol“.) Under the direction of Mr Lukes this Czech male-voice singing society [čechische Männergesangsverein] arranged the day before yesterday an entertainment in the [Žofín] Island Hall. The Hall was extremely tastefully decorated, partly with white-red drapes, partly with fresh foliage. Over the singer’s stage was mounted the emblem of the Society. The organization [of the Hall] was like a Liedertafel and a social festival, the extraordinarily numerous and brilliant society comprising both greater and the lesser, were seated at tables in both halls and in the gallery. The union of physical comfort with aesthetic pleasure, which was not lessened by drink and humorous songs, to some extent conflicted, which was natural when the programme and the direction in itself assumed the stimulus of a higher [art] tendency[...] The Society was made up of some hundred youthfully powerful voices; the choruses by Slavík, Kalliwoda [Kalivoda], Horák, Křížkovsky [Křížkovský] and Nápravník were performed with precison as well as with nuance. Praise was due to the declamation of Mrs Peška and for the solo performance of Mr Smetana, generally known as a sterling and brilliant pianist. Among the guests were numerous political, learned and artistic personalities.’

The German-language newspaper Prager Zeitung 12/11/1862 published a positive even though quite brief review, signed ‘!!’, of this event in a column of news dated 11/11/1862. The correspondent reported that ‘The male-voice singing society „Hlahol“ yesterday arranged a musical-declamatory production [eine musikalisch-deklamatorische Produkzion] in the Hall of Žofín Island. The choruses performed were partly of serious, partly of humorous content, partly of old-classical [altklassischer], partly of modern character, and were performed with such precision and panache by nearly a hundred talented singers under the direction of Mr Lukes that almost all were received with stormy applause. Particularly imposing and powerful in effect was the unison old chorale „Kdež [Kdož] jste Boží bojovnici [bojovníci]“. A pleasing variety was provided by Mrs Peška and Mr Schamberg in declamations, and by the pianist Mr Smetana with several bravura concert pieces.’

Negative comment by the German-language Prague press of this event was interestingly limited to the newspaper Prager Morgenpost. Although the newspaper did not publish a specific review of the occasion, on 12/11/1862 it did publish a pointed observation entitled ‘Musical legerdemain in the service of Czech agitation [Musikalische Taschenspielerei im Dienst der čechischen Agitation].’ The unsigned correspondent reported that ‘As we report, there was performed in the last Liedertafel of the singing socety „Hlahol“ on Monday Kaliwoda’s magnificent chorus „das deutsche Lied“, but translated into Czech with the title  „Náš zpěv“ and with the refrain „A zaznivá náš český zpěv [And resounds our Czech song]“ taken from the line „Es ertönt das deutsche Lied [The German Lied resounds]“. The author of the text then contested that it was wrong for the Czech society to have chosen one of Kaliwoda’s works to perform in Czech when that composer had written ll of his choruses in the German language. A better choice it asserted would have been a composition by Veit.

Dalibor 10/11/1862 reported that Hlahol was arranging an entertainment on Monday 10th November in the Žofín Island Hall at 7pm. The programme was listed in details and the soloists identified. The report related that founder and contributory members could obtain admission tickets from the bookshop of Em. Petřík in the New Alley [Nový Alej] on production of their Hlahol membership cards.

The programme is reproduced in performance order, as noted in the Dalibor 10/11/1862 report and in the Dalibor 20/11/1862 review. According to the review, signed ‘R.’, the entertainment received a ‘very numerous’ attendance and was adjudged ‘a splendid success. The programme comprised a good choice of humorous and patriotic choruses, and for variety also included declamations and pieces for piano. The entertainment began with [a performance of] Slavík’s chorus Otčina [Fatherland] which was distinguished by refined singing. In this chorus, despite skilful part writing, the composer could not avoid a certain monotony, which is perhaps the cause of the composition not exerting a ravishing effect upon the listeners. However... the audience was inspired by the effective chorus of our countryman Václ. Kalivoda, Náš zpěv [Our song] and by the choruses possessing folk spirit and capricious humour Stará čarodějnice [Old Sorceress] and Píseň při draní [Song at threshing time] by Václ. Horák. Křížkovský’s chorus Zatoč se [Turn about!] has for its subject a Moravian folksong which is arranged for four male voices in a very interesting manner. The chorus Vávra by Nápravník is a well-considered work in folk spirit.’ The review noted that the choruses most favourably received by the audience were Píseň při draní, Zatoč se and Vávra. Lukes’s direction was ‘very circumspect, imparting to the compositions the spirit that a performance must have. The performances of all the choruses were very precise and, where necessary, fiery... The value of the entertainment was enhanced still more by our excellent piano virtuoso Mr Bedř. Smetana who performed his own Fantasie on national songs, a Nocturne by Chopin and... [an extract] from [Souvenír de Bohême en forme de polkas]. The execution of all these compositions was spirited; they were paintings with pertinent light and shade, conspicuous for their remarkable richness of colour, and inspired general astonishment. On universal demand Mr Smetana added his transcription of the song „Kde domov můj?“, which he executed delightfully.’

A review by Národní listy was published in that newspaper on 13/11/1862, combining coverage with comment upon the Mass performance given by Hlahol on the day before this entertainment event. The correspondent reported that the ‘Entertainment taking place on 10th November seemed on the whole to be splendid. The declamation and solo playing on the piano were provided by such stalwart forces as Mrs Pešková, Messrs Šamberk and Smetana. The choruses were partly well-known and partly new. The greatet impression on the public was made by the choruses „Zatoč se“ by P. Křížkovský, „Vávra“ by Nápravník and „Stasa“, „Při draní“ by Horák. „Otčina“ by Slavík was rendered with more fervour, tenderness and enthusiasm than we have heard it, so it created a great effect. The trenchant, stark song „Kdož jste Boží bojovníci“ performed in unison crowned the audience’s exhiliration and afforded us with the opportunity to experience ourselves the sounds of the warriors for the Holy testament [i.e. of the Hussite warriors]. This effect was in truth really great, and for a moment we imagined ourselves in the time long ago of strong men, of courageous deeds, in a period that was truly great. „Naprej“, which was sung from memory and which ended the beseda, reminded us again of our turbulent present times. Mr Smetana received very much applause for his able playing at the piano. The entertainment, visited by our men Palacký, Purkyně, Rieger and others, continued until late.’