*p1692 05 02 dg The Fairy Queen. Edition of 1692: Prologue-.*c1692 05 02 dg The <i>United Company</i>. The date of the first performance is stated in $Luttrell=, <i>A Brief Relation</i>, II, 435, 28 April 1692: On Monday will be acted a new opera, call <i>the Fairy Queen</i>: exceeds former playes: the clothes, scenes, and musick cost 3000#. [According to <i>Some Select Songs As they are Sung in the Fairy Queen</i> (1692) tne singers were $Mrs Ayliff=, $Mrs Dyer=, $Freeman=, $Mrs Butler=, and $Pate=. See <i>Purcell's Works</i>, <i>Purcell Society</i>, XII (1903), ii; $E. W. White=, <i>Early Performances of Purcell's Operas</i>, <i>Theatre Notebook</i>, XIII (1958-59 ), 45; and $R. E. Moore=, <i>Henry Purcell and the Restoration Theatre</i>, Chapter IV.] $Downes=, <i>Roscius Anglicanus</i>, pp. 42-43: <i>The Fairy Queen</i>, made into an Opera, from a Comedy of Mr $Shakespeare= s: This in Ornaments was Superior to the other Two [<i>King Arthur</i> and <i>The Prophetess</i>]; especially in Cloaths, for all the Singers and Dancers, Scenes, Machines and Decorations, all most profusely set off; and excellently perform'd, chiedly the Instrumental and Vocal part Compos'd by the said $Mr Purcel=, and Dances by $Mr Priest=. The Court and Town were wonderfully satisfy'd with it; but the Expences in setting it out being so great, the Company got very little by it. <i>Gentleman's Journal</i>, May 1692: The Opera of which I have spoke to you in my former hath at last appear'd, and continues to be represented daily: it is call'd, <i>The Fairy Queen</i>. The Drama is originally Shakespears, the Music and Decorations are extraordinary. I have heard the Dances commended, and without doubt the whole is very entertaining. [As the May issue of the <i>Gentleman's Journal</i> was licensed on 14 May, the statement that <i>The Fairy Queen</i> continued to be acted daily may indicate consecutive performances from 2 May to at le ast 14 May 1692.]