Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Text 1st published (unauthorized), Dublin, 1792]: The Scenes entirely new, designed and executed by Greenwood. With new Dresses and Decorations. The Musick composed principally by Storace, with a few Pieces selected from [Una Cosa Rara, by] Martini [i.e. Martin y Soler], Salieri, and Paisiello. "The Siege of Belgrade is a very pleasing vehicle for the music, which in a modern opera is all that is expected from the poet" (Universal Magazine, Jan. 1791, p. 66). "The battle between Palmer and Kelly ought to be shortened. It is almost as ludicrous as that between Don Whiskerandos and Beefeater, in Mr Puff's Tragedy [in The Critic]" (Gazetteer, 4 Jan. 1791). Account-Book, 24 May 1791: Paid Cobb for Copyright of Siege of Belgrade of #210. Receipts: #267 9s. 6d. (242.0.0; 23.9.6; 2.0.0)

Event Comment: The Subscribers and the Public are respectfully acquainted that, on account of the length of the performance on Thursday last, and the Dances introduced in the Opera, there will be but one Ballet this evening

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. "There were not an hundred persons in the Pit when their Majesties entered, and there were not double the number at any part of the evening. The Royal box being in the centre, fronting the stage, their Majesties were invisible to the Gallery; and on their entrance solemn stillness prevailed, until the Orchestra, for the first time in an Opera-house, for the first time by the Professional Band, Struck up God save the King. Never, we will venture to say, in any Theatre during the present reign, was there so thin an audience when their Majesties were present; and we pretend not to divine the cause. Whether it is the failure of the Theatre as a musical room--the general poverty of the performance--the little notice that was given of their Majesties' intention to be present we know not" (Morning Chronicle, 23 Feb.)

Event Comment: This was a semi-private rehearsal, with Davide as Pirro. "Yesterday evening an act of Pyrrhus was rehearsed on the stage of this theatre' (London Chronicle, 24 Feb.). "The Theatre is not yet ready entirely for the Public" (Oracle, 24 Feb.) [see 26 Mar.]. On 22 Feb. the newspapers carried a statement from the theatre that "the rehearsal announced for Wednesday Evening is...deferred for a few days." But this deferment was set aside. The Lord Chamberlain having refused a license for the performance of opera at this theatre, Pirro was not publicly performed

Event Comment: "Pacchierotti was taken ill on Saturday and was unable to sing his songs. An apology was made for him, and he walked on and walked off without diminution of the public pleasure. Here was an unanswerable argument for the Pantheon as an Opera-House; for the silence of a singer is no injury to the entertainment" (Morning Chronicle, 28 Feb.)

Event Comment: Ladies and Gentlemen who have Places for the succeeding Nights, will please to observe, the New Opera will be performed every Night till further Notice. Receipts: #285 11s. 6d. (281.3.6; 4.8.0)

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera; the music by Guglielmi, with additions and alterations [by Mazzinghi]. Under the direction of Mazzinghi

Event Comment: "Last night the Proprietors of this undertaking saw company to the number we imagine of Four Thousand Persons...Davide, in the Opera of Pirro, engrossed the whole of the applause that so matchless a singer may well merit" (Oracle, 11 Mar.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Crouch. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Prince Hoare, based on La Grotta di Trofonio, by Giovanni Battista Casti. Not in Larpent MS; not published]; Written by the Author of No Song No Supper. The Music composed principally by Storace [partly adapted from Salieri, composer of Casti's opera; one song each by Anna Storace, Thomas Attwood, Giovanni Paisiello, Richard Suett]. Oracle, 28 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Crouch, No. 26, Bridges-street. Receipts: #280 2s. (100.12.0; 33.13.6; 4.13.6; tickets: 141.3.0) (charge: #119 9s. 8d.)

Event Comment: The Nobility and Gentry are respectfully acquainted that in consquence of his Majesty's Birth-day, the Opera intended for tomorrow will be performed this Evening

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 Nobility and Gentry are respectfully acquainted that, on account of the absence from town of many Subscribers, there will be no Opera at the above Theatre until Saturday next, January 7

Event Comment: By Command of Their Majesties. "The crowd and the tumult at the doors of the Theatre last Wednesday [raised the question] why the Box and Pit passages, which were the same last year, are now separated. The answer is because at the Opera, the Boxes and the Pit are for the same price and company; at the Playhouse they are different in both respects. Repeated notices were sent by Kemble both to those on foot and in carriages that the house was full; and the doors were actually closed before the house was really filled in the hope of dispersing the crowd--but they were a second time forced open" (Morning Chronicle, 7 Jan.). Receipts: #582 8s. 6d. (552.15.6; 26.14.0; 2.19.0, being the largest amount received at this theatre during its occupancy by the dl company)

Event Comment: [La Pastorella Nobile, with La Fontaine d'Amour and La Fete Villageoise announced, in place of La Discordia Conjugale, "unavoidably postponed," but not performed. "On Saturday last [the Pantheon] was burnt to the ground. The fire broke out about two o'clock in the Painter's room...The building before seven in the morning was a mere shell" (Morning Herald, 18 Jan.). For continuation of opera season see hay, 14 Feb.

Event Comment: The Nobility and Gentry are most respectfully informed that, in consequence of the calamity that has befallen the Pantheon [see 14 Jan.], the Italian Operas are necessarily removed for the remainder of the present season to this Theatre, where preparations are now making to accomodate the Subscribers; and of the first Representation notice will be given in a few days [see 14 Feb.]

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Billington. Mainpiece: 1st time at this Theatre [1st performed at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, 3 Jan. 1784]. The Music by Gluck [whose opera this actually was, with additions by] Handel, Bach, Sacchini, Reeve, and Mazzinghi. With an entire new Overture composed by Gyrowetz. In II Weichsel will accompany an obligato song on the violin. Dances by Byrne and Mlle St.Amand. With new Scenery, Dresses, and Decorations. Afterpiece: Not acted these 2 years [acted 27 May 1791]. Morning Herald, 9 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Billington, No. 53, Poland-street. Receipts: #371 15s. (257.18.6; 8.15.6; tickets: 105.1.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera composed by Paisiello [but not recorded in any list of his operatic works]; under the direction of Mazzinghi. [Originally ententitled Le Vane Gelosie, this was 1st performed at Naples in 1790. Its libretto, by G. B. Lorenzi, was re-set in 1793 by G. Astarita, and performed at Venice as Le Fallaci Apparenze. The characters in all these versions are identical. See E. Faustini-Fasini, Opere Teatrali di Paisiello, 1940, 137-38, and Morning Herald, 2 Apr. 1792.

Event Comment: A Comic Opera; composed by Guglielmi. Under the direction of Mazzinghi. The Doors to be opened at 7:00. To begin (by particular desire) exactly at 8:00 [same for rest of season]

Event Comment: By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Benefit for The Literary Fund. [In this performance the male parts were acted chiefly by amateurs; the female parts were acted by professionals. Prologue and Epilogue by Thomas Morris (Morning Herald, 17 Apr.).] The Committee for the Management of the Literary Fund respectfully inform the Public that affecting instabces of Merit in distress exceed their power of relief by the ordinary Subscription; and that they wish to have recourse to every honourable expedient to increase that power. The Admission will be by Tickets, at the Opera Prices. Boxes and Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. No more Company will be admitted than the House will hold with perfect convenience; and when the proper number of Tickets is issued, no means of admission can be obtained. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 precisely. Registers: Thomas Dale, M. D.; Mr Deputy Nichols. Treasurers: Thomas Morris, Esq.; Mr E. Brooke. "In the course of the play we observed several restorations of Shakespeare's text, with some interpolations. The boldest of the latter was the introduction of Richard's son to him in the tent, the night befiredthedbefore the Battle of Bosworth field. This scene was borrowed, as we believe, from Thomas? Hull's Legendary Tale of Richard Plantagenet. It was well written, and produced a considerable degree of effect. The Ghosts were banished, and the start and stagger of Richard, heretofore the theatrical trick of the scene, necessarily omitted" (Diary, 17 Apr.)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; DO 3, by Prince Hoare, based on Didone Abbandonata, by Pietro Metastasio]: The Musick is chiefly new, and composed by Storace. The Selections are made from the most celebrated works of Salieri, Paer, Rampini, Sacchini, Sarti, Giordani, Cimarosa, Schuster, Andreozzi. The Scenery and Machinery designed by Greenwood and executed by himself and his Pupils. The Dresses of the Tyrians, Trojans and Africans entirely new, and taken from the most accurate descriptions of the Habits of their respective Nations. [Both Miss Barclay and Master Welsh had 1st appeared at the king's oratorios, 24 Feb.]. "A procession was introduced in which an Ostrich, a Dromedary and an Elephant marched to slow music. The Masque, which concluded the opera, was some insipid stuff about Neptune and Nereids, with a representation of the Temple of Neptune. Young Welsh sang prettily in this said Masque" (Morning Herald, 24 May). "[Mara] retained only one song of her Didone [see king's, 14 Feb. 1786]; the brilliant bravura, Son Regina, of Sacchini" (Mount-Edgcumbe, 80). Morning Herald, 28 May 1792: This Day is published Dido (price not listed). Receipts: #244 8s. 6d(213.14.5; 28.15.0; 1.19.0)

Event Comment: The Last Opera this Season. "La Bella Pescatrice terminated the season at this place, on Saturday last, before an audience which fully occupied the house in all parts. The stage overflowed with nobility" (Morning Herald, 11 June)