London Stage Event: 21 February 1766 at Covent Garden

21 February 1766

Event Information

Theatre: Covent Garden

Theatrical Season: 1765-1766

Volume: 4

Comments: In the Gazetteer 25 Feb. appeared a long editorial by "Rectus": "Though the performing oratorios in the time of Lent,is highly censured by many, yet I must own that I think the far greater part of them become enemies to those solemn performances, rather because their ears are more unfit for music than their minds are for the pretended immorality that attends such exhibitions." [The writer wishes not to cry down every entertainment he cannot relish himself and adds], "I have long endeavoured to find out the reason why plays should not be performed on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent as well as on those days all through the rest of the season. I have never yet been able to find out that Lent makes the least difference in people's way of living." [He wonders, however, why the non-sacred oratorios such as Acis and Galatea and Alexander's Feast have been allowed performance. He then registers a mild complaint about the management of the Oratorios because they do not include sufficient solo instrumental entertainment between the parts.] "This custom was wholly dropped last year, and I complained greatly of it in a letter which you did me the favour to insert. I was greatly surprised to find Mr Pinto, who then led the band, was either not permitted or not paid to play a solo, as well as Mr Hay, who played one every night the preceding season. Mr Stanley's illness not permitting him then to play, that omission was overlooked, though it might have been supplied by a performer on some other instrument. This season the managers have thought proper to treat their audience with one solo or concerto every night, but why not have two?" [He liked Barthelemon's solos, but lamented that Stanley sat idle, and he offered final advice that the managers should alternate the solo instruments for "pleasing variety." The admission price demands it.

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Original Data

Source: London Stage Information Bank

*p??cg Samson. [Parts were:% Samson-; Manoa-; Micah-; Israelite Officer-; Chorus of Israelites-; Dalila-; Harapha-; Chorus of Philistine Women and Priests of Dagon-. *m??cg As 14 Feb. *c??cg In the Gazetteer 25 Feb. appeared a long editorial by "$Rectus=": "Though the performing oratorios in the time of Lent,is highly censured by many, yet I must own that I think the far greater part of them become enemies to those solemn performances, rather because their ears are more unfit for music than their minds are for the pretended immorality that attends such exhibitions." [The writer wishes not to cry down every entertainment he cannot relish himself and adds], "I have long endeavoured to find out the reason why plays should not be performed on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent as well as on those days all through the rest of the season. I have never yet been able to find out that Lent makes the least difference in people's way of living." [He wonders, however, why the non-sacred oratorios such as Acis and Galatea and Alexander's Feast have been allowed performance. He then registers a mild complaint about the management of the Oratorios because they do not include sufficient solo instrumental entertainment between the parts.] "This custom was wholly dropped last year, and I complained greatly of it in a letter which you did me the favour to insert. I was greatly surprised to find $Mr Pinto=, who then led the band, was either not permitted or not paid to play a solo, as well as $Mr Hay=, who played one every night the preceding season. $Mr Stanley='s illness not permitting him then to play, that omission was overlooked, though it might have been supplied by a performer on some other instrument. This season the managers have thought proper to treat their audience with one solo or concerto every night, but why not have two?" [He liked $Barthelemon='s solos, but lamented that Stanley sat idle, and he offered final advice that the managers should alternate the solo instruments for "pleasing variety." The admission price demands it.]
Cleaned Data

*p1766 02 21 cg Samson. Parts were: Samson-; Manoa-; Micah-; Israelite Officer-; Chorus of Israelites-; Dalila-; Harapha-; Chorus of Philistine Women and Priests of Dagon-.*m1766 02 21 cg ^As17660214^.*c1766 02 21 cg In the Gazetteer 25 Feb. appeared a long editorial by "$Rectus=": "Though the performing oratorios in the time of Lent,is highly censured by many, yet I must own that I think the far greater part of them become enemies to those solemn performances, rather because their ears are more unfit for music than their minds are for the pretended immorality that attends such exhibitions." [The writer wishes not to cry down every entertainment he cannot relish himself and adds], "I have long endeavoured to find out the reason why plays should not be performed on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent as well as on those days all through the rest of the season. I have never yet been able to find out that Lent makes the least difference in people's way of living." [He wonders, however, why the non-sacred oratorios such as Acis and Galatea and Alexander's Feast have been allowed performance. He then registers a mild complaint about the management of the Oratorios because they do not include sufficient solo instrumental entertainment between the parts.] "This custom was wholly dropped last year, and I complained greatly of it in a letter which you did me the favour to insert. I was greatly surprised to find $Mr Pinto=, who then led the band, was either not permitted or not paid to play a solo, as well as $Mr Hay=, who played one every night the preceding season. $Mr Stanley='s illness not permitting him then to play, that omission was overlooked, though it might have been supplied by a performer on some other instrument. This season the managers have thought proper to treat their audience with one solo or concerto every night, but why not have two?" [He liked $Barthelemon='s solos, but lamented that Stanley sat idle, and he offered final advice that the managers should alternate the solo instruments for "pleasing variety." The admission price demands it.]
Parsed Data

Event: 33053 | 17660221 | cg | In the Gazetteer 25 Feb. appeared a long editorial by "$Rectus=": "Though the performing oratorios in the time of Lent,is highly censured by many, yet I must own that I think the far greater part of them become enemies to those solemn performances, rather because their ears are more unfit for music than their minds are for the pretended immorality that attends such exhibitions." [The writer wishes not to cry down every entertainment he cannot relish himself and adds], "I have long endeavoured to find out the reason why plays should not be performed on Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent as well as on those days all through the rest of the season. I have never yet been able to find out that Lent makes the least difference in people's way of living." [He wonders, however, why the non-sacred oratorios such as Acis and Galatea and Alexander's Feast have been allowed performance. He then registers a mild complaint about the management of the Oratorios because they do not include sufficient solo instrumental entertainment between the parts.] "This custom was wholly dropped last year, and I complained greatly of it in a letter which you did me the favour to insert. I was greatly surprised to find $Mr Pinto=, who then led the band, was either not permitted or not paid to play a solo, as well as $Mr Hay=, who played one every night the preceding season. $Mr Stanley='s illness not permitting him then to play, that omission was overlooked, though it might have been supplied by a performer on some other instrument. This season the managers have thought proper to treat their audience with one solo or concerto every night, but why not have two?" [He liked $Barthelemon='s solos, but lamented that Stanley sat idle, and he offered final advice that the managers should alternate the solo instruments for "pleasing variety." The admission price demands it.

Performance: 67717 | 33053 | p | Samson | Parts were: Samson-; Manoa-; Micah-; Israelite Officer-; Chorus of Israelites-; Dalila-; Harapha-; Chorus of Philistine Women and Priests of Dagon-.
Cast:
112926 | 67717 | Samson

112927 | 67717 | Manoa

112928 | 67717 | Micah

112929 | 67717 | Israelite Officer

112930 | 67717 | Chorus of Israelites

112931 | 67717 | Dalila

112932 | 67717 | Harapha

112933 | 67717 | Chorus of Philistine Women and Priests of Dagon | .

Performance: 67718 | 33053 | m | As17660214
AsSeeDate: 67718 | cg | m | As | 17660214

21 February 1766

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