Event Comment: A new Serious Opera, with Grand Chorusses; the Music by Johann Christian? Bach

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera [1st time; SER 3, by Giovanni de Gamerra]. With grand Chorusses. The Music entirely new by Antonio Sacchini

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Mara. A new Grand Serious Opera, composed by Sarti. Under the direction of Mazzinghi. With new Scenes, Dresses, and Decorations. Tickets, half a guinea each, to be had of Mme Mara, No. 25, Queen Ann-street, East

Event Comment: Benefit for Pacchierotti. Tickets to be had of Pacchierotti, No. 17, Duke-street, Manchester-square. A new Grand Serious Opera (1st time [i.e. in 2 acts; originally performed in 3 acts at Milan, 1778, and at king's, 22 Jan. 1780]); the music by Bertoni. [World announces the ballets for this night as La Fille Mal Gardee and Le Siege de Cythere.

Event Comment: [The playbill announces Nina, but "Last night the grand tragic opera of Semiramide was revived, in which Mme Banti and Viganoni received all their usual applause. [In the new dance] there is a charming pas de deux by Didelot and Rose" (Morning Chronicle, 3 Jan.).

Event Comment: 2nd ballet: 1st time; composed by Barre; the Music by Bossi. "Mme Hilligsberg, who possesses the first rank among the dancers of London, is a woman of distinguished merit: she succeeds with peculiar happiness in sportive and jocose expressions, and she is bewitchingly graceful as a Welch or Scotch country girl. Her figure is very handsome; but her arms are somewhat long and thin. The third dancer is Mme Laborie; she possesses an agreeable figure, much animation and native gracefulness. She might become a first-rate dancer [if] she did not trust too much to her natural talents, and bestowed more attention on the art" (Goede, 265). "Les Deux Jumelles, ou la Meprise, pouvoient tres bien faire le sujet d'unjoli divertissement; mais pour un grand ballet, il a fallu y appeller le secours des dieux, & faire descendre ce que nous appelons une gloire de nuages qui se developpent assez mal: c'est la faute du machiniste ou du charpentier. D'ailleurs, cette gloire ne sert a rien, puisque l'Amour vient dans un assez mauvais cabriolet, pousse par des hommes qu'on voit un peu trop distinctement, & s'en retourne de meme a reculons. Nous avons vu souvent le char de l'Amour aller en avant; mais il est rare qu'on le voie reculer, & cette meme gloire eprouve autant de difficulte pour remonter qu'elle en avout eue pour descendre, laissant le spectateur tres convaincu de son inutilite" (Anthony LeTexier, L'Ami des Meres, 1799, I, 192-93). The subscribers are most respectfully intreated to be careful to whom they give their Tickets, as many improper persons have lately presented themselves for admission into the Theatre with those Tickets; and the subscribers are requested to observe that, in future, persons of this description will be conducted directly to the identical Boxes to which such Tickets belong, instead of being admitted into any other part of the Theatre. And the public are intreated to understand that neither Ladies in Undress Hats or Bonnets, nor Gentlemen in Boots will be admitted into the Pit of the Opera

Event Comment: Benefit Mrs Younger. Afterpiece: At the Request of several Ladies of Quality. Never Acted there before. Written by the Author of the Beggar's Opera. Receipts: money #81 14s.; tickets #101 3s

Event Comment: Benefit Hallam, Berry, Miss Vaughan. Afterpiece: a new Farcical Opera of one Act. [Author unknown. Apparently not published.

Event Comment: Benefit Delane. Afterpiece: Written by Mr Gay, Author of the Beggar's Opera. [Tickets at Delane's Lodgings, the Golden Ball in Exeter-Court, the Strand.

Event Comment: The Rebellion, is so far from being a disadvantage to the play-houses that, I assure you, it brings them very good houses; and the masters receive so much profit from the Nonjuror, that I wish it does not give them a respect for the name the rest of their lives.-Mrs Cibber to Garrick, 24 Oct. in Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 37. She continues: There will be no operas this year, so if you, Mr Quin and I, agree to play without any salary, and pick up some of the best actors and actresses that are disengaged, at what salary you both think proper, I make no doubt we shall get a licence to play there for fifty, sixty, or any number of nights you agree upon. Mr Heidigger shall pay scenes, & pay those that receive wages; and deliver the overplus to some proper person to enlist men to serve in any of the regiments of Guards, at five pounds per man;--this is the service St. Martin's Parish puts the money to that they collect,--and I mention it, because it is thought the most serviceable to the Government, of any scheme yet proposed

Event Comment: The Introduction (tho left out of the Bills) was call'd for, & had some Applause (Cross). Books of the opera sold at the theatre. Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 3 years. [See 1 May 1765.] Books of the opera to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #213 (Account Book)

Event Comment: A serious opera composed by Vento and other celebrated composers. Prices: Pit and Boxes, 10s. 6d. First Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. 6:30 p.m. By their Majesties Command, no persons can be admitted behind the Scenes or into the Orchestra. Vivant Rex et Regina. [Manager's plea for subscribers to pay up to Bankers Drummond and Co. or to Mr Crawford (treasurer) at his dwelling adjacent to the Theatre. Repeated.

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera. Music by Giordani and other eminent composers

Event Comment: Last time of performing that opera this season

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera [1st time; COM 3]. Written by Badini; the music entirely new composed by Bertoni

Event Comment: For the better convenience of the company, during the Performance the Pit will be open as usual, and the passage through the Boxes into the Galleries will be open. As soon as the Performance is over, the Supper Rooms will be opened, and, during the time of Supper, the Pit will be covered and the Galleries shut up. The Decorations are entirely new planned, and executed by Novosielski. The whole under the Direction of Crawford. Tickets 2 guineas each. The Doors to be opened at 9:00. The Performance to begin at 10:00. [Le Picq was from the Opera, Naples.]

Event Comment: Mr Salomon having insinuated that he alone is in possession of a correct Score of this celebrated Oratorio, I feel compelled, in justice to myself, to state that the Oratorio was published by subscription at Vienna, and that the printed Copy, from which I had the Parts transcribed, was delivered by Dr Haydn to a subscriber in Vienna, and brought from thence expressly for me, and on which is the Doctor's initials. The accuracy with which it was performed, and the enthusiasm with which it was received, are, I hope, convincing proofs that no other directions are necessary to "produce the effect required by the Author." I should not thus have obtruded myself, but I conceived it requisite to justify myself from the imputation of having attempted to impose a spurious production upon that public to whom I am under so many obligations. I am, with the greatest respect and gratitude, their most obedient servant, John Ashley. March 29. [On 29 Mar. the following card had appeared in most of the daily newspapers: Mr Salomon having received from Dr Haydn an early Copy of his New Oratorio called The Creation of the World, and having been favoured by him exclusively with particular directions on the style and manner in which it must be executed, in order to produce the effects required by the Author, begs to acquaint the Nobility and Gentry, that he means to perform it on Monday, the 21st of April next, at the King's Theatre. The performance took place on that date in the Ancient Music Room, i.e. the large concert-room situated inside the King's, on the east side, level with the first tier of the boxes. The reason for this change was, states the playbill, "the present Performances in the Opera House not allowing sufficient time to erect an Orchestra on the Stage." The principal singers were Mme Mara, Mme Dussek, Small, Page, Denman, Bartleman. Samuel Wesley presided at the organ and at the piano forte.

Event Comment: By Subscription. With a new Prologue and Epilogue. Admission as 14 Dec. 1703. [A Folger Library broadside appears to be a program for this concert. It lists in Act I The Druid's Song from Bonduca, two songs by Mrs Tofts, a song from The Fairy Queen, and a dance; in Act II The Frost Music from King Arthur, two dances, and a song by Mrs Tofts; in Act III an Ode on the Glorious Beginning of Her Majesty's Reign, set by Daniel Purcell and performed by Leveridge, Hughes, Mrs Lindsey, and Mrs Campion; a song by Mrs Tofts, The Sacrifice from King Arthur, and a Grand Dance.

Event Comment: Benefit Walker, a Brother. For the Entertainment of the Grand Master and the Worthy Brothers and Sisters of the Honourable Community of Modern Free-Masons. Mainpiece: Written by the late Mr Gay. Afterpiece: Taken from Moliere, and Intermixed with Songs. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. 6:30 p.m

Event Comment: Benefit Salway. For the Entertainment of the Grand Master and the Rest of the Brethren of the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons. Afterpiece: With several Additions by the Author

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With accompaniments to the Airs composed by Thomas? Linley? Sen. [Miss Wright's 1st appearance, as an actress, was at this theatre on 7 May 1779.] Afterpiece: With Alterations and Additions; To conclude with a Grand View of Greenwich Hospital, designed by DeLoutherbourg. Paid Land Tax 3rd & 4th Qtrs. to Lady Day #41 16s. Receipts: #187 3s. 6d. (151.3.0; 35.15.6; 0.5.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Rossi. Tickets, half a guinea each, to be had of Mme Rossi, No. 33, Pall-mall. 2nd ballet: With Grand Chorusses; the original Music by Matthew Locke is entirely preserved; the rest partly new [by Barthelemon], partly compiled from the most favourite Scotch Airs. "We cannot think last night's effort among the most successful . . . Lepicq and Rossi were the Macbeth and Lady--and considering the narrow boundaries of their art, which is tongue-tied, they discoursed 'with most miraculous organs.' Still, however, the whole of the material questions of the scene were agitated with all the disadvantages of contrast with comparative inefficience" (Public Advertiser, 18 Mar.)