Event Comment: By Command of
their Majesties. With the latest improvement by
Mr Handel. Pit and boxes to be put together. Tickets will be deliver'd that day, at the Office in the theatre at Half a Guinea each. First Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. 6d. Galleries to be opened at Half an Hour past Four. Pit and Boxes at Five. To Begin at Half an Hour after Six (
Public Advertiser, 4 March). [N.B. This is an Advance notice. No notice occurs on this day, but the following: This Day publish'd
Esther: An Oratorio, with the last improvements by Mr Handel. To be performed, by Their Majesties Command at the Theatre Royal in
Covent Garden. Price 1s.] Went into the First Gallery at Covent Garden to hear the Oraortio,
Esther, composed by Handel. The Stage was formed into an orchestra, like one side of an amphitheatre divided by an organ, atop of which was a head of Handel in a radiated frame. In the front sat the vocal performers,
Champney,
Vernon,
Mrs Arne,
Mrs Pinto,
Miss Young, and
Mrs Frasi.
Stanley played on the Organ but retired after the 1st or 2nd act. The house was not much crowded, tho the
King and
Queen, those idols of fools, were there (
Neville MS Diary). Charges: #35 (Account Book)
Performances
Mainpiece Title: Esther
Performance Comment: Parts were: Habdonah-; Haman-; Officer-; Chorus of Israelites-; 1st Israelite-; 2nd Israelite-; Esther-; Ahasuerus-.Music: CConcerto on Organ-Stanley