Event Comment: The
United Company. This performance is indicated in the
Newdigate newsletters, 11 Jan. 1693@4: On Tuesday the
Prince of Baden dyned with ye
D of Linster and yesterday
his Highness saw the new Opera called
Diaclessia acted at the
Ks play house (
Wilson,
More Theatre Notes from the Newdigate Newsletters, p. 59). There is, however, some uncertainty about this performance. In the first place,
Dioclesian was not a new play, although new songs frequently appeared in it. In the second place,
Dryden's new play,
Love Triumphant, was ready for its premiere about this time, and the compiler of the Newdigate newsletters might have been mistaken in identifying the play. Yet the certain performance of
The Double Dealer on 13 Jan. 1693@4 would be an awkward interruption of the initial run of
Love Triumphant if it were the new play the Newdigate newsletters refer to. It seems likely, then, that
Love Triumphant did not make its first appearance until mid-January. In
Thesaurus Musicus, 1694, is a new song in
The Prophetess, Act III,
When first I saw the bright Aurelia's eyes, set by
Henry Purcell and sung by
Mrs Ayliff. It is also in
Joyful Cuckoldom 1695. In the latter compilation are three other songs for this play:
Since from my dear, sung by
Mrs Hudson "in
the Prophetess, as it is newly reviv'd," set by
Henry Purcell;
Let monarchs fight, the words by
Thomas Betterton, the music by
Henry Purcell, and sung by
Freeman;
Let ye soldiers, the words by Thomas Betterton, set by
Henry Purcell, and sung by Freeman
Performances
Mainpiece Title: The Prophetess; Or, The History Of Dioclesian