Event Comment: Rich's Company. The date of this production is not certain. The
Dedication, signed by
George Powell and
John Verbruggen, is dated Monday, 16 Oct. 1696, but this date is in error, for the sixteenth fell on Friday in October; however, 16 Nov. 1696 fell on Monday. In addition, the Dedication implies that the two men hope to have visitors (i.e., spectators at performances) on "Wednesday, and Saturday next, the Visiting Days of, Your Friends and Servants, George
Powell, John Verbruggen." It is possible that the text and the songs were printed in advance of performance and were available at the theatre, but it is still uncertain whether the opera first appeared in October or November 1696.
The Single Songs, With the Dialogue, was published separately in 1696, with
Daniel Purcel named as the composer. The songs to which performers' names are listed are as follows:
Cease, Cynthia, cease your fruitless tears, sung by
Mrs Cross.
I courted and writ, the verse by
Jo Hanes and sung by
Church.
How happy I am the fair sex can defy, the verse by Jo Hanes and sung by
Leveridge.
'Tis in vain to tell me I am deceived, sung by
Freeman.
Great queen of Hymen's hallowed fires, sung by
Mrs Willis.
Why, Chloe, will you not perceive, the verse by
John Robens and sung by
Church.
Why dost thou fly me, sung by
Edwards and
Mrs Cross.
If mortals laugh and sing, sung by
Freeman. The
Songs were entered in the
Term Catalogues, November 1696
Performances
Mainpiece Title: Brutus Of Alba; Or, Augusta's Triumph
Related Works
Related Work: Brutus of Alba; or, Augusta's Triumph Author(s): George Powell