Event Comment: The proprietors of the Opera House think it is their duty to lay before the Nobility and Gentry to whose patronage they are highly endebted a list of the engagements made for the ensuing season. [No attention or expense spared to make the operas brilliant. Gordon spent two months in Italy, and made two trips to Paris to select the best singers and dancers.] The ill health of Sg Carabaldi having prevented his setting out in time and made it impossible for him to be here at the opening of the theatre. Sg Scheroli, the Tenor who has played the first Buffo with the greatest reputation in Italy, has kindly undertaken to play the part until his arrival. Company: Serious Opera-Millico, Mrs Davies, Scheroli (Tenor), Sga Galli, Sga Lodi. Comic Opera-Carabaldi, Scheroli, Sga Marchetti, Sga Galli, Fochetti, Sga Lodi, Sga Gardi. Poet-Sg Badini. Master of the Dances-Petro. Principal Dancers-Fierville, Pico, Vicenzo Lorenzo, Bocchini, Mariottini, Sga Mimi Faviere, Sga Mazzoni, Sga Nina Faviere, Colomba (from Milan), Mr Canter. Book-Boxkeeper-Yates. [Requests nobility and subscribers to pay up their subscriptions.

Event Comment: Sunday 30 Jan-Saturday last died James Love, Comedian, Master of Edinburg Theatre, late of Drury Lane. Was educated at Westminster School and went from there to Cambridge (Winston MS 10). Rec'd stopages #19 19s. 6d.; Paid salary list #529 2s.; Mr King's extra salary #3. Receipts: #183 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fishar (ballet master). Charges #66 3s. 6d. Profit to Fishar #49 2s. 6d., plus #115 6s. from tickets (Box 156; Pit 155; Gallery 169). Paid Whitefield for cloaths of the pages #21 17s. 6d.; Paid Mr Capell for a suit of men's cloaths #5 5s. Receipts: #115 6s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: "The orchestra, during the whole time of representations [of the opera] has by no means been conducted with that exactness that should be expected from that band...It must be supposed that neither the master of music at the harpsichord, nor Mr Cramer, the leader, have influence or power enough to prevail on the band to play, or rather, to accompany, more correctly...The arias of the tenor and base [sic] have been played, or rather accompanied, too fast, and without harmony with the voices of Morelli and Fineschi, which being good, and they seeming to wish to sing with all possible expression, the orchestra should have accompanied accordingly. Mme Storace, howefer, has baffled the efforts of the musicians to make her sing out of tune, quick or slow. As they fiddled, she modulated" (Public Advertiser, 17 Jan.). Receipts: #147 12s. 6d. [non-subscription]

Event Comment: The United Company. The date of this revival is not known, but the fact that this edition was entered in the Term Catalogues, February 1683@4, makes it likely that the revival occurred not later than December 1683. A new song, There was a jolly beggar, in Act IV, Scene ii, was probably written for this revival. It was printed in Choice Ayres and Songs, the Fifth Book, 1684

Event Comment: Scenes, Machines, Dresses, and Decorations entirely new. Boxes 4s. Pit 2s. Gallery 1s. To begin exactly at half an hour after Six

Event Comment: Benefit for Ackman and Settree. There will be no building on the Stage

Event Comment: Benefit for Wild, prompter. Afterpiece: Not acted these 7 years. With a Mock Processionv, and Triumphal Entry of Chrononhotonthologos. Morning Chronicle, 1 May: Tickets to be had of Wild at Pennington's, watch-maker, opposite Broad Court, Drury-Lane

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. Every Man in his Humour and The Irish Widow [both announced on playbill of 13 May], which were to have been performed this Evening, for the Benefit of Fawcett and Sga Crespi, are obliged to be deferred till Monday next. Receipts: #216 2s. 6d. (193.7.0; 22.7.6; 0.8.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Suett and R. Palmer. Public Advertiser, 30 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Suett, No. 230, High Holbourn, and of R. Palmer, No. 3, Cecil Street, Strand. Afterpiece: Not acted these 20 years [not acted since 4 Nov. 1762]. Receipts: #227 18s. (29/18/0; 31/14/6; 0/5/6; tickets: 166/0/0) (charge: #107 0s. 9d.)

Event Comment: Double Drums by Ashbridge. Trombones by Flack, Dressler, Zwingham, Schubert. The Chorusses, which will be far more numerous than on any former occasion, will be supported by the Young Gentlemen of His Majesty's Chapel Royal, and the Choristers of St. Paul's. A Subscription of Two Guineas and a Half will receive Eleven Tickets for the Boxes, transferable either to a Lady or a Gentleman; any number of Tickets may be used nightly at the pleasure of the Subscriber. Books of the performance to be had at the Theatre, price #6d. Boxes 6s. Pit 3s. 6d. Gallery 2s. No Money to be returned. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [same throughout oratorio season]

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Storace. Afterpiece [1st time; MF 2, by Prince Hoare]: The Musick by Storace. Morning Herald, 27 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Sga Storace, No. 36, Howland-street, Rathbone-place. Account-Book, 4 July: Paid Hoare for Prize #210. ["Sga Storace's person (is) clumsy; her face coarse and ordinary; and yet there is so much enchanting vivacity...that she always delights whenever she appears" (Candid Strictures, 41).] Receipts: #388 12s. 6d. (196.11.6; 38.5.0; 3.10.0; tickets: 150.6.0) (charge: #157 1s. 3d.)

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of A BOLD STROKE FOR A WIFE, advertised on playbill of 23 Dec.] Afterpiece [1st time; P 1, author unknown. MS: Larpent 1001; not published]: Partly new and partly compiled. The Music by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs [T. Cadell, 1793) to be had at the Theatre