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)