*p1766 01 25 king's Sofonisba. Ciprandi; Savoi.*d1766 01 25 king's Adriani, Sga Fabris Monari.*c1766 01 25 king's By Command of $their Majesties=. [$Sga Spagnolla= had been ill and missed a number of performances. For singers and dancers see following letter.] Sir: I am one of those to whom an Oratorio or an Opera (whether Italian or English) gives exquisite delight; and am therefore glad that, as the town is now full, those entertainments will, very probably, be crowded; and thus amply repay the several managers, for the great risk they run, as to their property, as well as for the vast pains they take to amuse us; for the labour employed, on those occasions, is infinitely greater than is usually imagined. The Italian opera has suffered considerably, this season, by the inability of $Sga Spagnoli= to exert her musical talents, owing to a most severe cold; but as she has now recovered her voice, 'tis presumed that she will be a source of as great pleasure, among us, to persons of a musical ear, and who have a true taste for that species of dramas, as she was in her native country, where she was always heard with great applause. I myself find great charms in the entertainments, as now exhibiting at the <i>King's Theatre</i>: for, besides Sga Spagnoli's taste I do not perceive the least diminution in $Sg Elisi='s voice or action, both of which pleased us so much two or three years ago. $Ciprandi= appears to me a fine player as well as singer; and with regard to $Sg Savoi=, he is generally thought to have a pleasing voice. [Comments on competence of the Orchestra.] The principal dancers are likewise acknowledged to have considerable merit. The gracefulness and the ease of $Sg Adriani= are very pleasing, as is the elegant agility of $Sga Fabris Monari=....$Sg Sodi= has so often diverted us by his compositions as Ballet master that it were superfluous to bestow any encomiums on him in this place. [Long comment on agreeable performance of <i>Sofonisba</i>, Scenery, etc. A puff by $Musidorus= in <i>Public Advertiser</i>.]