Event Comment: A new Serious Opera (1st time [in
London; 1st performed at
Venice, 1781]);
the music by
Sarti, under
the direction of
Mazzinghi. "At length in
the spring arrived
the celebrated
Marchesi, whose fame had long reached this country, and who had been extolled to such a degree that impatience and expectation were raised to
the highest pitch; and on
the first night of his appearance
the theatre was not only crowed to
the utmost in every part, but on
the rising of
the curtain,
the stage was so full of spectators that it was some time before order and silence could be obtained, and with some difficulty that Marchesi, who was to open
the opera, could make his way before
the audience. Marchesi was at this time a very well-looking
young man, of good figure, and graceful deportment. His acting was spirited and expressive: his vocal powers were very great, his voice of extensive compass, but a little inclined to be thick (
Mount-Edgcumbe, 66-67). Receipts: #437 15s. 6d., i.e. 560 tickets delivered to
Prendergrass [see 8 Dec. 1787], who sold 558; 110 to
Toosey, who sold 86; 400 to
Butler, who sold 285; 236 to
Snelson, who sold 204. Total non-subscription tickets sold: 1133