Event Comment: The
United Company. This performance is on the
L. C. list, 5@147, p. 68: The
King and
Queene & a Box for ye Maydes of Honor at the Opera. See also
Nicoll, Restoration Drama, p. 350, and 1 Jan. 1684@5. The opera was certainly given on 3 June, probably on 10 June, and probably on 13 June, the day that the news of the
Duke of Monmouth's landing reached
London; as
Downes states that it was acted six times, there were three additional performances between 3 and 13 June 1685. Downes (
Roscius Anglicanus, p. 40): In Anno 1685. The Opera of
Albion and Albanius was perform'd; wrote by
Mr Dryden, and Compos'd by
Monsieur Grabue: This being perform'd on a very Unlucky Day, being the Day the Duke of Monmouth, Landed in the West: The Nation being in a great Consternation, it was perform'd but Six times, which not Answering half the Charge they were at, Involv'd the Company very much in Debt.
Roger North: The first full opera that was made and prepared for the stage, was the
Albanio of Mr Grabue, in
English, but of a
French genius. It is printed in full score, but proved the ruin of the poor man, for the King's death supplanted all his hopes, and so it dyed (
Roger North on Music, ed.
John Wilson [
London, 1959], p. 311). The
Prologue and
Epilogue, published separately, are reprinted in
Wiley,
Rare Prologues and Epilogues, pp. 244-46. The score and the libretto were published in 1687 (licensing date of 15 March 1686@7):
Albion and Albanius; An Opera; Or, Representation in Musick. Set by
Lewis Grabu, Esq;
Master of His late Majesty's Musick