Event Comment: A Comic Opera in 2 acts; the Music by Piccinni, under the Direction of Anfossi

Event Comment: Opera: The Music by Sir Christopher Gluck; with the additons of John Christ. Bach, and with the choice of several pieces of Handel. The Whole under the direction of Anfossi. Director of and 1st singer in the Chorus-Webb. The Scenes invented and painted by Novosielski. The Dresses entirely new, executed by Sestini. [Libretto (J. Jarvis, 1785): SER 3.]

Event Comment: A Comic Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Venice, 1778]); the music entirely new by Salieri [with additions by Anfossi, Sacchini, Paisiello, Mazzoni, J. Mazzinghi]

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Sestini. A Comic Opera; the Music by Anfossi. Tickets, 10s. 6d. each, to be had of Sga Sestini, No. 38, Mount-street, Berkeleysquare

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera [1st time; SER 2, librettist unknown; a pasticcio]; the Music by Tarchi [who wrote Rubinelli's part, and by Anfossi, Cherubini, Piccinni]. "Rubinelli is a musician of the first class . . . His voice and his science, though both pre-eminent, are never forced forward beyond their proper rank, which, in a musician, is the rank of subserviency to the feelings. The musician that is not felt is no musician" (Public Advertiser, 6 May)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Leonard Macnally, adapted from the same, by Michel Jean Sedaine. Not in Larpent MS; not published; synopsis of plot in Morning Chronicle, 17 Oct. For text of abridged version see 21 Oct.]: Taken from the celebrated French Opera of that Name. With the original Overture, Airs, Duetts, Trios, Chorusses and Finale, by the celebrated Gretry. To which are added Compositions by the following Masters; Anfossi, Bertoni, Duni, David, Rizzio, Carolan, Tenducci, and Shield. With new Dresses, Scenery and other Decorations. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [The printed score (Longman & Broderip, c. 1786) indicates that the music was adapted by Shield; it does not refer to Duni, Rizzio or Tenducci, but includes Philip Hayes and John Wilson. After the 1st 4 performances the mainpiece was reduced to an afterpiece of 3 short acts; see 21 Oct.] Account-Book, 28 Nov.: Paid Macnally in full for Coeur de Lion #121 18s. 6d. "Inchbald we thought [was] rather hardly dealt with. His voice happened to fail him in a particular turn of the tune he was singing, and some of the audience were ungenerous enough to disconcert him so far that he made a modest bow and retired [leaving his part unfinished. In consequence of this] a duet that was to have been sung by the King from the battlements of the castle, and Blondel without the walls, on which the turn of the fable hinged, was omitted; a circumstance that could not but materially affect the intrinterest, as it destroyed the connexion of the fable" (Morning Chronicle, 17 Oct.). [The following day Inchbald withdrew from his engagement at cg.] Receipts: #249 12s. 6d. (247.11.6; 2.1.0)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Richard Bentley. Beginning with 4 Feb. 1789 reduced to an afterpiece of 2 acts. Not in Larpent MS; not published; synopsis of plot in Public Advertiser, 15 Dec.]: With entire new Dresses, Scenery, and Decorations. The Music partly selected from the works of Haydn, Purcell, Pleyel, Anfossi, Cimarosa, Gretry, Giordani, Sacchini [the score (Longman and Broderip [1788]) adds: Irwich]; and partly composed by Shield. With a Grand Overture by Salieri. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #245 3s. 6d. (238.6.6; 6.17.0)

Event Comment: 1st piece: The Music partly selected from Handel, Purcell, Pleyel, Anfossi, Cimarosa, Gretry, Giordani and Sacchini; and partly composed by Shield. With an Overture by Salieri. [3rd piece in place of Thomas and Sally, advertised on playbill of 23 Nov.] Receipts: #195 11s. 6d. (189.14.0; 5.17.6):

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Larpent MS 961; not published; synopsis of plot in Universal Magazine, Nov. 1792, p. 393]: The Scenes entirely new, designed and executed by Greenwood. With new Dresses and Decorations. The Music composed principally by Storace, with a few Pieces selected from Anfossi, Bianchi and [La Bella Pescatrice, by] Guglielmi. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:15. To begin at 6:15 [see 15 Apr. 1793]. "The dialogue of operas now a days is thought of little consequence, and in this instance, the author has certainly strictly adhered to that opinion; however, by the aid of Painter, Composer, Taylor and Performers [The Pirates] will certainly long continue to attract admiration" (Thespian Magazine, Jan. 1793, p. 169). Receipts: #359 10s. 6d. (336.6.6; 23.0.0; 0.4.0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by John O'Keeffe. In 1797 altered by the author as The Rival Soldiers]: With new Music, new Scenes and Dresses. The Music composed and selected [from Handel and Anfossi (BUC, 969)] by Shield. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 25 May 1793: This Day is Published Sprigs of Laurel (1s). Receipts: #210 16s

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Music composed principally by Storace, with a few pieces selected from Anfossi, Bianchi, and Guglielmi. "But for the excellent acting of Falmer, [THE ENGLISHMAN IN PARIS] would now scarcely be tolerated" (Thespian Magazine, June 1794, p. 225). Powell: Pirates rehearsed at 11 (Sedgwick one scene; Bardeauleau, Boyce, Horsfall). Receipts: #337 3s. (277/3/6; 57/3/0; 2/16/6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Music composed principally by Storace, with a few pieces selected from Anfossi, Bianchi, and Guglielmi. Powell: Emilia Galotti rehearsed at 10; Wedding Day at 12; Sultan at 1. Receipts: #304 (245.14; 58.2; 0.4)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by James Cobb. Larpent MS 1050; published (pirated) 1795]: The Musick, principally new, composed by Storace, with a few Pieces selected from Anfossi, Mozart, Bianchi, Ditters and Sarti. The Scenes and Decorations are all designed and painted by Greenwood, except the View of the New Settlement, which is by Capon. The Dresses, &c. are executed by Johnston and Miss Rein. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Powell: Cherokee rehearsed at 9:30. Receipts: #340 5s. 6d. (284.5.0; 54.13.0; 1.7.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Musick principally new, composed by Storace, with a few Pieces selected from Anfossi, Mozart, Bianchi, Ditters and Sarti. Receipts: #165 1s. (113.5.6; 50.15.0; 1.0.6)