15 April 1747
          Event Information
          
            
              
            
          
        
        Theatre:
            Covent Garden          
          Theatrical Season:
            1746-1747          
          Volume:
            3          
          Comments:
            CCatherine Talbot to Elizabeth Carter, 18 April: These oratorios of Handel's are certainly (next to the hooting of owls) the most solemly striking music one can hear....In this last oratorio he has literally introduced guns, and they have a good effect.--Deutsch, Handel, p. 640, who identifies the guns as kettle-drums.  But Winton Dean, Handel's Dramatic Oratorios, p. 471, identifies them as the outsize drums from the Tower of London.  See Sheridan's The Critic on off-stage gun shots: This hint I took from Handel.  Recced of Mr Handell for rent of his 10 Oratorio's #210.--Account Books, Egerton 2268.  [Actually there were twelve nights of oratorios.