Now I come to an important period of my artistic life, namely to the presentation of my first opera “Seraphine”. After the score had been with the then-Theater- Director Liebich for almost a year and a half, and the opera “Kanzuma”, or “Die wieder-gefundene Perle” by Dionys Weber had not been performed because of its dramatic unviability, which was supposed to be given before my opera; finally the rehearsals began, which I led from A to Z, with the Kapellmeister at the time, Wenzel Müller, always present.

Since as a boy I was already a proficient singer, my compositions could not help but sound organic, and thus it also was the case that the singers learned their parts without effort, and most already sang all of it by memory. At the first general rehearsal C.M. Weber was also present, who had come to Prague in order to give a concert, and incidentally to negotiate what was remaining with Liebich because of the position as Kapellmeister at the State Theater.

He stood near me next to the pianoforte, and read along in the score, he could not marvel enough regarding the idiomatic treatment of the bass and the idiomatic instrumentation, but I was too busy to give the proper value to his compliments regarding these. The first finale so electrified the Director and all those present, that it was all I could to receive all the embraces that were bestowed on me afterwards.

December 15 was the day on which the first performance took place before a very full house. Friends and enemies, as well as the impartial, were all present in order to hear how a Prague composer, who neither voyaged anywhere, nor had a position anywhere as Kapellmeister, did in writing an opera. My compositions for the piano and for voice, and also some for orchestra, were already known to the musical world, and the world spoke about them to my advantage, so that it was no surprise that a masterpiece was expected from me. And that was precisely what made my position difficult and held my mood captive. The seventh hour struck, Liebich embraced me, and wished me luck.