Event Comment: Alter'd from the Italian with several new Additions. [By Dr Morell. Set by Handel. The words entirely adapted to the Music of Il Trionfo del Tempo, composed at Rome about 1707 (Biographia Dramatica).

Event Comment: Among the Principal Instrumental Performers are G. Ashley, Leader of the Band; C. Ashley, Principal Violoncello; Wm. Parke, Sarjant, J. Mahon, Boyce, Bridgtower, Parkinson, Lavenu, Taylor, W. Ware, Flack, Dressler, Gwilliam, Nicks, [the] Munros, I. Sharp, W. Sharp, M. Sharp, J. Sharp, Archer, Cobham, Jackson, Wood, Coyle, Cornish, Purney, Leffler, Woodham, Piele, [the] Cantelos, Skillern, Beale, Lloyd, Franki, Simpson, Jenkinson, &c.; J. Ashley, Organ; R. Ashley, Double Drums (used at Westminster Abbey). The Chorusses will be numerous and complete. The whole under the Direction of Ashley. Boxes 6s. Pit 3s. 6d. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Brandon at the Office in Hart-street. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout oratorio season]. Books of the Performance (with the imprimatur of E. Macleish) to be had at the Theatre. [Sga Galli did not sing in The Messiah when it was originally performed in Dublin in 1742, or in London in 1743, in which year the cg oratories under Handel were established.] "I had the curiosity to go, and heard [Sga Galli] sing, 'He was despised and rejected of men' in the Messiah. Of course her voice was cracked and trembling, but it was easy to see her school was good; and it was pleasing to observe the kindness with which she was received, and listened to; and to mark the animation and delight with which she seemed to hear again the music in which she had formerly been a distinguished performer. The poor old woman had been in the habit of coming to me annually for a trifling present; and she told me on that occasion that nothing but the severest distress should have compelled her so to expose herself, which after all did not answer its end, as she was not paid according to her agreement" (Mount-Edgcumbe, pp. 19-20). [At the rehearsal, 1 Mar., I know that my Redeemer liveth sung by Mme Mara; Comfort ye my people by Braham; But@thou didst not leave by Miss Poole (Morning Herald, 2 Mar.).] "The chorusses are not such as would give satisfaction to a musical amateur: in this department we must endeavour to be content with noise and bawling, instead of sense and science:--they are not, however, worse than usual" (Monthly Visitor, Mar.1797, p. 262)

Event Comment: TThe King, Prince and Princess of Wales present. Universal Mercury, February 1726: Mr Handel had the Satisfaction of seeing an old Opera of his not only fill the House, which had not been done for a considerable time before, but People crowding so fast to it, that above 300 were turn'd away for want of room

Event Comment: Composed by Mr Handel. With all the Grand Chorus's, Scenes, Machines, and other Decorations, being the first Time it ever was performed in a Theatrical Way. Pit and Boxes at 5s. Gallery 2s. 6d. 7 p.m

Event Comment: dvertiser, 11 March: We hear, amongst other publick Diversions that are prepaid for the Solemnity of the approaching Nuptials, there is to be perform'd [at King's, 13 March] a Serenata, call'd Parnasso in Festa: The Fable is Apollo and the Muses celebrating the Marriage of Thetis and Peleus. There is one standing Scene, which is Mount Parnassus, on which sit Apollo and the Muses, assisted with other proper Characters emblematically dress'd, the whole Appearance being extreamly magnificent; nor is the Musick less entertaining, being contriv'd with so great a Variety, that all sorts of Musick are properly introduc'd in single Songs, Duettoes, &c. intermix'd with Chorus's something in the Stile of Oratorios, People have been waiting with Impatience for this Piece, the celebrated Mr Handel having exerted his utmost Skill in it.hathiBenefit Delane. At the Desire of several Persons of Distinction

Event Comment: Composed by Mr Handel

Event Comment: Composed by Mr Handel

Event Comment: Mrs Pendarves, 27 April: Yesterday morning [26] at the rehearsal of a most delightful opera at Mr Handel's called Sosarme. Delany, Autobiography, I, 463

Event Comment: Mrs Pendarves, 30 April: I go to-night... to Sosarmes, an opera of Mr Handel's, a charming one, and yet I dare say it will be almost empty!

Event Comment: London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 4 Nov.: We are informed, that when Mr Handel waited on their Majesties with his New Opera of Ariodante, his Majesty . . . was graciously pleased to subscribe 1000/. towards carrying on the Opera [at CG. No confirmation of this point is known]

Event Comment: The Bee, 9 Nov.: Mr Handel opens Tomorrow . . . with the Opera of Pastor Fido . . . and we hear there was a Rehearsal this Day at Twelve o'Clock

Event Comment: Benefit Waltz, Singer in Mr Handel's Operas. 6 P.M. 5s

Event Comment: Benefit Caporali, First Violoncello in Mr Handel's Operas. 7 P.M. 5s

Event Comment: As 5 March. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 13 March: Last Night their Majesties and the Princess Caroline . . . heard Esther, an Oratorio; and Mr Handel's two new inimitable Concertos on the Organ. [Egmont also present.]

Event Comment: Benefit Miss Norsa. Tickets at her Lodgings, Nassau Street, near Gerrard Street. Receipts: money #12 14s. 6d.; tickets #101 9s. London Daily Post and General Advertiser, 29 April: We hear Mr Handel has compos'd a new Opera, on the Occasion of his Royal Highness's Marriage to the Prince[S] of Saxe Gotha, and as the Wedding was solemnized sooner than was expected, great Numbers of Artificers, as Carpenters, Painters, Engineers, &c. are employed to forward the same

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Written by the late Sir Richard Steele. Mrs Pendarves to Mrs Ann Granville, 8 Jan.: I was this morning regaled with Mr Handel's new opera called Arminius, it was rehearsed at Covent Garden.--Delany, Autobiography, I, 587

Event Comment: LLord Wentworth to the Earl of Strafford, 19 Jan.: We was at Covent Garden Play House last night, my mother was so good as to treat us with it, and the Dragon of Wantcliff was the farce. I like it vastly and the musick is excessive pretty, and tho it is a burlesque on the operas yet Mr Handel owns he thinks the tunes very well composed....and it has been acted 36 times already and they are always pretty full. The poor operas I doubt go on but badly, for tho every body praises both Cafferielli and the opera yet it has never been full, and if it is not now at first it will be very empty towards the latter end of the winter.--Wentworth Papers, p. 539

Event Comment: DDaily Advertiser, 29 Dec.: Mr Handel has hir'd the Opera-House in the Hay-Market for the Season, and intends to entertain the Town twice every Week with Oratorios