• FISCHER, Joseph: soloist, vl, va d'amore
• SVOBODA, František Václav: director of ensemble, conductor
• Orchestra of F.V. Svoboda: participating orchestra, orch

Bohemia 5/3/1850 reported that on ‘Tuesday 12 March the chamber virtuoso of Prince Lobkowitz [Lobkovic], Mr J. Fischer, will give a concert in the Žofín Hall, in which we will hear him on the violin and Viola d’amour.’ Attention to the viola d’amore was was drawn by its being noted in bold, Latin typeface. The correspondent reported having heard that the well-known native artist Mr Versing of the Estates Theatre would also appear in the event. The date, time and venue of this event were then listed in the Tagesanzeiger text of Bohemia 12/3/1850, which titled the event as a ‘Konzert musickale’ given by Mr Fischer, chamber virtuoso of Prince Lobkowitz. However, Prager Zeitung 13/3/1850 published news from 12/3/1850 that the concert was postponed until 16/3/1850 due to unspecified difficulties; on 14/3/1850 Bohemia announced too that owing to [unspecified] unfortunate circumstances Mr Fischer’s concert was not given on 12 March and would instead take place on 16/3/1850 at 5pm in the Žofín Island Hall. This new date was confirmed by the Tagesanzeiger texts of Bohemia 14/3/1850 and 15/3/1850.

A review, signed ‘V.’, of this concert by the Czech violinist Fischer was published by Bohemia 19/3/1850. The postponement of the event evidently resulted in confusion, for the review specified that the concert actually took place on 15th March. Such problems and annoyances, noted the correspondent, would not be wished on an artist during the high concert season. The works performed by Fischer, of his own composition, were not praised. ‘Peculiarly shaky’, they were characterized by frequent fluctuations between a ‘solemn lyrical melancholy followed not infrequently by mercurial caper’. The same description was applied to the playing of the artist himself. However, his virtuoso proficiency in the Concertino and Variations was acknowledged; both were recieved with applause by the audience. The ‘Phantasie’ for viola d’amore generated much interest, but the correspondent noted that the instrument had limitations for such a work. Concerning the remainder of the programme, Miss Frey [Freyová] declaimed a ‘new poem by Hansgirg “Die Nonnenschwester Luitgardis” with the mastery with which this artiste is always distinguished. Mr Horn, a pupil of Proksch’s Music Institute played a very demanding Phantasie by St. Heller on a theme from Halevy’s “Le val d’Andora” and a “Notturno e Scherzo” of his own composition. Mrs Cäcilie Botschon-Soukup sang E. Titl’s well-known “Der Sennin Heimweh”. Both received loud ... applause. The Žofín Hall was fairly [ziemlich] full. The accompaniment of the violin pieces was assumed by Mr Swoboda with his band, instead of the Theatre orchestra as had been announced.’