Event Comment: A New Comic Opera; compsoed by Pietro Guglielmi; under the direction of Mazzinghi. Pit Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 precisely [see 14 Feb. 1792]. The Nobility and Gentry are intreated to give particular Orders to their Coachmen to set down and take up with their Horses' Heads towards Hyde Park. The Door in Blenheim Mews will be shut during the Performance and opened only for the Company to go in Chairs. Subscriptions are received at Messrs Ransom, Morland and Hammersly's, No. 57, Pall-mall. And the Nobility and Gentry are earnestly requested to send a complete List of the Subscribers to their respective Boxes as soon as possible, since (by express Orders) no Person, on any account, can be admitted without producing a proper Ticket

Event Comment: The Manager of the Opera, in conjunction with Noverre, the Ballet Master, esteem it their duty to request all persons who are not immediately interested in the performance of the new ballet of L'Amour et Psiche, to keep clear from the stage during the time of its representation, lest any accident should arise from the moving of the Machinery, from the flambeaux to be used therein, and from the opening of the Trap Doors, circumstances which must necessarily take place on the Practices and Representation of that ballet, and which they therefore think it incumbent on themselves to forewarn and caution the Public. "Noverre was unanimously called for on the stage to receive the applause and acclamations due to his merit...This, though common in France, was a new mark of approbation in England" (Burney,II, 901). Receipts: #146 1s. 6d. [non-subscription]

Event Comment: "Miss Hilligsberg cannot be praised enough for her exertions and sucess in the execution of [the second] ballet, which has given her an opportunity of making herself perfect in her profession [this being her 1st season on the stage]...The scenery has no doubt by Noverre, and if it is not more magnificent it is not for want of genius on his part, but to spare the purse of the Managers...The Palace of Cupidv for the reception of Psiche in the first, and that of Venus in the last act, with the appearance of Jupiter, &c. in the skies, were very well executed, and beautifully arranged by the actors" (Public Advertiser, 7 Feb.). Receipts: #202 11s. (non-subscription]

Event Comment: king's "On 28th March 1795, I saw the Opera Aci & Galathea by Bianchi. The music is very rich in parts for the wind instruments, and I rather think one would hear the principal melody better if it were not so richly scored. The Opera is too long, especially since Banti has to keep everything going all by herself; for Brida is a good youngster with a beautiful voice but very little musical feeling; and Rovedino, and the good old Braghetti, and the wretched Seconda Donna-they all deserved, and received, not the least applause. The orchestra is larger this year, but just as mechanical and badly placed as it was before, and indiscreet in its accompaniments; in short, it was the 3rd time that this Opera was performed, and everyone was dissatisfied. It happened that, when the 2nd Ballet began, the whole public suddenly became dissatisfied and yelled 'off-off-off,' because they wanted to see the new Ballet which Madam Hilligsberg had given at her Benefice 2 days earlier. Everyone was embarrassed-there was an interval lasting half an hour-until at last a dancer came forward and said, very submissively: 'Ladies and Gentlemen: since the performer [sic, instead of proprietor] Mr Taylor cannot be found, the whole Ballet Company promises to perform the desired ballet next week, for which, however, the Impresario must pay Madam Hilligsberg #300.'That satisfied them, and they then yelled, 'go on-go on;' and thus the old Ballet was performed' (Haydn, 293)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Simonet. Public Advertiser, 21 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mme Simonet, No. 5, Dover-street, Piccadilly. "[Vestris's] forcible manner of characterising the passions in the part of Jason distinguished him as an actor superior to all his contemporaries. Mme Simonet in Medea, it is said by the judges, is equal to him as an actress" (London Magazine, Apr. 1781, p. 156)