Event Comment: A new Serious Opera [1st time; SER 3, by Pietro Metastasio]. The Music entirely new by Bertoni

Event Comment: A Serious Opera in 2 acts (1st time [by Pietro Metastasio]); the Music selected from the most eminent Composers by and under the direction of Cherubini. [Crescentini was from the Opera, Lucca; Sga Ferrarese from the Opera, Turin.]

Event Comment: A Serious Opera (SER 3); originally written by Metastasio; the Music selected from the most eminent Composers, under the Direction of Cherubini. [Babbini was from the Opera, Rome.]

Event Comment: A Serious Opera, altered [by Carlo Francesco Badini] from Metastasio; the Music by Anfossi [a pasticcio, with additions by Sacchini, Piccinni, Gazzaniga, Schuster, Mortellari]. [This was Mme Mara's 1st appearance on the English operatic stage. She had 1st sung in London, in concerts at the Pantheon, in 1784.] "It is with the utmost astonishment we remarked that she unites the talents of an excellent actress with the merit of the most enchanting singer that ever perhaps came forth on any stage" (Morning Herald, 15 Feb.). "Mme Mara delivered the recitatives with a force of expression that produced the strongest interest of character, and the woes of Dido as powerfully engaged the sympathy, as the rich and varied melody of the airs, the admiration of the audience" (Morning Chronicle, 16 Feb.). "The [second] opera was Didone, a pasticcio, for which Mara had made a very judicious selection of songs, introducing four of very different characters, by Sacchini, Piccinni, and other composers, all of which were so much and so equally admired, that two were encored every night, each of them receiving that mark of approbation in its turn. Mara's talents as a singer (for she was no actress and had a bad person for the stage) were of the very first order. Her voice, clear, sweet, distinct, was sufficiently powerful, though rather thin, and its agility and flexibility rendered her a most excellent bravura singer, in which style she was unrivalled" (Mount-Edgcumbe, 59)

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera [1st time; SER 2, by Carlo Francesco Badini, based on Alessandro nell'Indie, by Metastasio]; the Music new by Tarchi. "The House was so pleased with it that they did as is done in foreign Theatres--they gave the Composer specific applause, 'Bravo Tarchi', 'Bravo Maestro'" (World, 3 June)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; DO 3, by Prince Hoare, based on Didone Abbandonata, by Pietro Metastasio]: The Musick is chiefly new, and composed by Storace. The Selections are made from the most celebrated works of Salieri, Paer, Rampini, Sacchini, Sarti, Giordani, Cimarosa, Schuster, Andreozzi. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Greenwood and executed by himself and his Pupils. The Dresses of the Tyrians, Trojans and Africans entirely new, and taken from the most accurate descriptions of the Habits of their respective Nations. [Both Miss Barclay and Master Welsh had 1st appeared at the king's oratorios, 24 Feb.]. "A procession was introduced in which an Ostrich, a Dromedary and an Elephant marched to slow music. The Masque, which concluded the opera, was some insipid stuff about Neptune and Nereids, with a representation of the Temple of Neptune. Young Welsh sang prettily in this said Masque" (Morning Herald, 24 May). "[Mara] retained only one song of her Didone [see king's, 14 Feb. 1786]; the brilliant bravura, Son Regina, of Sacchini" (Mount-Edgcumbe, 80). Morning Herald, 28 May 1792: This Day is published Dido (price not listed). Receipts: #244 8s. 6d(213.14.5; 28.15.0; 1.19.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; T 5, by Robert Jephson, based on La Clemenza di Tito. by Pietro Bonaventura Trapassi? Metastasio. Text (unauthorized), Dublin: John Archer, 1796; it assigns no parts. Authors of Prologue and Epilogue unknown]: The Scenery by Marinari. Receipts: #237 10s. (169.18; 64.12; 3.0)