Event Comment: 3rd piece [1st time; past 2, by Matthew Feilde. MS: Larpent 585; not published; synopsis of plot in Public Advertiser, 22 Feb.]: With New Overture and Music, composed by [Michael] Arne. New Dresses, Scenes and Decorations. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #247 12s. (243/19/6; 3/12/6)

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera in 2 acts; The Music by Sacchini. [Opera in place of I Viaggiatori Felici, announced in Public Advertiser, 1 Mar. Nonini, who is unidentified, was from the Opera, Lisbon.] Public Advertiser, 6 Apr.: To the credit of Sacchini, it is the best Burletta extant. It is in all parts excellent . . . while it amuses, it does not fail equally to interest

Event Comment: Benefit for Mlle Theodore. [Scenario of new ballet (Vienna, c. 1773) lists the parts: Colin, Herpin, Le Baillif, Clitandre, Lucas, Julie, Mathurine, Javotte, Climene, Lisette.] Tickets to be had of Mlle Theodore, No. 39, Tichfieldstreet, Portland Chapel

Event Comment: By Desire of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Benefit for Gardel. Tickets, half a guinea each, to be had of Gardel, No. 26, Margaret-street, Cavendish-square. 1st ballet: With entirely new Music, and a new Overture by Carter (Morning Herald, 25 May)

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera [1st time; COM 2, by Carlo Francesco Badini]. The Music entirely new, composed by Anfossi

Event Comment: A Serious Opera, in 2 acts (never performed before [by Pietro Metastasio]); the Music entirely new by Anfossi. With new Scenes and Decorations, designed and painted by Novosielski. Public Advertiser, 10 May: The Event of Saturday night may teach the Managers, if they are not incapable of being taught, how it has happened that their House has for these six Weeks past been almost empty, and now at last was again full. For these six weeks past the Town has been disgusted with bad Music, ill sung; with that wretched Apology for a first rate singer, Rauzzini, and that barbarous dullness which he thinks Music, his Regina di Golconda. On Saturday Night there was the direct Reverse of all this wretched Infamy . . . There have been few finer Operas, and none since Farinelli's time so exquisitely sung

Event Comment: An entirely new Comic Opera, in 2 acts [by Girolamo Tonioli]; the Music entirely new, by Anfossi

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by Thomas Holcroft]: The Overture and the rest of the music entirely new, by Shield. With new Dresses, &c. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Public Advertiser, 22 Nov. 1785: This Day is published The Choleric Fathers (price not listed). Receipts: #240 4s. (238/3; 2/1)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; C 5, by Harriet Lee. Prologue by Richard Cumberland (see text). Epilogue by the author (World, 28 Nov.)]: With new Dresses, Decorations, &c. Public Advertiser, 26 Nov. 1787: This Day is published The New Peerage (1s. 6d.). Receipts: #209 4s. (188.1.0; 19.14.6; 1.8.6)

Event Comment: 1st piece [1st time; PREL 1, by Richard Cumberland. Larpent MS 958; not published]. Without insisting on the great Expence that has been incurred in re-building this Theatre (in the erecting of which no other Object has been attempted but the greater ease, safety and accomodation of the Spectators) it appears upon the Books that the Annual Disbursements of the past Seasons have gradually been encreasing from Year to Year, under the Direction of the present Proprietor, to nearly the sum of #10,000 per Annum more than the usual Expenditure of any of his Predecessors; it is therefore trusted the Necessity of the following small Advancement of the Prices of Admission to the Boxes and the Pit will be sufficiently apparent to the Justice of that Public whose Liberality has never yet been doubted. E. Barlow, Treasurer. Boxes 6s. 2nd Price 3s. Pit 3s. 6d. 2nd Price 2s. Gallery 2s. 2nd Price 1s. No Money to be returned. The Office for taking Places for the Boxes is removed to Hart-street. The principal new Entrance to the Boxes is from the Great Portico in Bow-street; from the Small Portico are Entrances to the Pit and Gallery only. In the Old Passage from the Piazza are new Entrances to the Boxes, Pit, and Gallery. Carriages coming to Bow-street Entrances are desired to set down and take up with the Horses' Heads towards Hart-street. The Doors to be opened at 5:30. To begin at 6:30 [see 12 Nov.]. [The audience objected vociferously to the increased prices of admission and to the absence of a 2nd gallery (and see under 19 Sept.). "The Prelude passed off without a syllable of it being heard...Two acts of The Road to Ruin displayed the performers' skill in pantomime, for not a word was heard...The Irishman in London then walked over the stag amidst the same riot and confusion which attended the preceding pieces" (Times, 18 Sept.).] Receipts: none listed

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera; the Music by Sarti, Storace, Martini. Under the direction of Storace. [on 6 Jan. 1784 this was performed as I Rivali Deluse.] 2nd ballet: [Music by Storace] With Scenery, Machinery and Decorations entirely new, designed and executed by Marinari; the Dresses by Sestini

Event Comment: A New Serious Opera [1st time; SER 2, by Teresa Bandettino]; the Music [a pasticcio] by Sarti, Giardanello [i.e. G. Giordani], Tarchi and Federici. Under the direction of Federici. With new Dresses, Scenes, &c. [In 2nd ballet the playbill retains Nivelon as Achilles , but "Favre Gardel took the part of Achilles, vice Nivelon' (Diary, 12 June).

Event Comment: 1st piece: A Comic Opera in 1 Act [and see 1 Apr.); the music by Cimarosa. 2nd piece: A new Grand Tragi-Comic Opera; the music by Gazzaniga, [with additions by) Federici, Sarti, Guglielmi; under the direction of Federici. In the course of the Opera a Grand Funeral Procession, according to the ancient customs of Spain, consisting of upwards of 100 persons. The music of both dances by Miller. With entire new Dresses, Scenery, and Decorations. [And see 4 Mar.) Loewenberg, 442: Leporello's "Catalogue Song" from Mozart's Don Giovanni was included in this version of the

Event Comment: A new Grand Serious Opera, with Chorusses; the Music by Bianchi, under the direction of Federici. With entirely new Scenes designed by Marinari, Dresses composed and executed by Sestini, and Decorations. "[Banti] I must ever consider as far the most delightful singer I ever heard . . . Her first appearance in this country was in the opera of Semiramide, and all her part in it was of the most beautiful description. In addition to the songs belonging to the opera, she introduced a remarkably fine air by Guglielmi, from the Oratorio of Deborah, with an accompaniment for a violin obligato, originally played by Cramer, afterwards by Viotti and others. This song, though long and one of great exertion, was so prodigious a favourite that it never failed of being encored, not only in its novelty, but in every subsequent revival. Her acting, and recitative were excellent, and in the last scene, where Semiramide dies, was incomparably fine" (Mount-Edgcumbe, pp. 82, 84)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: The Overture, Chorusses and new Musick by Dr Arnold, The Dresses, Scenes and Decorations entirely new. The Scenes painted by Greenwood, Marinari, and their Assistants. Powell: Mountaineers rehearsed at 10; Wedding Day at 12. [Fialon and Aumer were from king's.] Receipts: #185 (131.17.6; 49.16.0; 3.6.6)

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Venice, 1790]); the music by Anfossi, with 2 additional songs in the 2nd act by Mme Banti, the 1st composed by Piccinni, the last by Naumann. With entire new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2, author unknown]: The Pantomime partly new and partly compiled. The principal parts of the Compilation from The Choice of Harlequin, The Magic Cavern, The Enchanted Castle, The Sylphs, and The Sorcerer. The Music compiled from, and composed by, Michael Arne, Shield, J. C.? Bach, Spofforth, &c. The Scenery, Machinery, and Decorations are partly new, and the rest completely repaired by Hodgins, Phillips, Hollogan, Blackmore, and assistants. The Dances composed by Byrn. The Dresses by Dick and Mrs Egan. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #274 14s. 6d. (254.13.0; 20.1.6)

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe. Altered by the author the following season as The Wicklow Mountains. Dross not listed in Airs, but it is the only other character in Larpent MS 1117]: With new Scenery, Music, and Dresses. The Music partly compiled, and the Overture, new Music, and the Accompanyments to the National Airs, composed by Shield.The Union Pipes and the Harp to be played by Topham and Weippert. The Scenes painted by Richards, Hodgins, Phillips, Hollogan, Blackmore and assistants. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre. Receipts: #215 (210.18; 4.2)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mme Rose. The Opera [will be performed] instead of Antigona, already announced in the papers of yesterday, it having been found impossible to get ready the machinery of the new Ballet after the performance of the Serious Opera. Mme Rose having been presented with an Engraving Ticket for her night, she proposes to give one with each Ticket, separately from the Ticket which will be admitted at the door. The Nobility and Gentry are respectfully entreated not be on that part of the stage where the mountain stands, as the machinery of the Ballet will be attended with danger. Tickets to be had of Mme Rose, No. 9, Hay-market. "The most bewitching dance we ever witnessed, for novelty of idea, charm of fancy, and delicacy of passion was performed last night. Not content with the common praise, the audience called forward the author, Didelot, and paid to him the tribute due to original and inventive talents. The ballet was entitled L'Amour Vange. The invention, which was perfectly new, was that of bands of Cupidsv floating in air-suspended seemingly on their own wings, without the intervention of any grosser medium" (Morning Chronicle, 3 June)

Event Comment: A Serious Opera (1st time [in London; 1st performed at Rome, 1766]); the music partly by Sarti and partly [i.e. with additions] by Paisiello. 2nd ballet: With entire new scenes by Degotti and executed by himself and Marinari. "The dresses [in this ballet] are said to be after designs from David; the costume is correct, perhaps, but it may be a little softened without injury to the effect. The contrast of colours is in some of them too harsh...The scenery is in a new stile. It has been our taste to assist the perspective by contracting the stage to a point. This was but a clumsy method, as the illusion was rarely complete, and it gave the idea of littleness. In this instance the stage is thrown open on every side, and the perspective is managed as every painter is obliged to manage it, on the broad surface, but still with the mechanic aids which scenery affords. The effect was enchanting" (Morning Chronicle, 30 Nov.). The Doors to be opened at 6:30. To begin at 7:30 [same throughout season]. Pit 10s. 6d. Gallery 5s. No Money to be returned. The Subscribers are most earnestly entreated to observe that, on account of the abuses frequently practised in their names, it has become absolutely necessary to adopt the former rule for Subscribers themselves to produce their Tickets at the doors as they pass into the Theatre. The Upper Boxes to be lett by the night, at one Guinea each for four persons. The way to them through the Gallery Staircase

Event Comment: Mainpiece:In I A Grand Masqueradev. Afterpiece [1st time; M. INT 1, by Thomas John Dibdin]: To conclude with a new Scenic Representation of Britannia Triumphantv. Interspersed With a Variety of favorite old Airs, popular Songs, Parodies, &c. The Overture and new Songs composed and the Music in general arranged by Moorehead. The Machinery invented and executed by Cresswell. Books of the Songs to be had in the Theatre, price Six-pence. Morning Chronicle, 16 Oct. 1799: This day is published The Naval Pillar (price not listed). The afterpiece had reference to the contemplated erection of a "Naval Pillar" on Portsdown Hill, near Portsmouth, in commemoration of the recent victbries of the English navy. A plain pillar is at the last introduced, with the names of the most celebrated admirals on a scroll, round which the sailors and their sweethearts dance with peculiar festivity. The pillar now flies open, and displays a most magnificent and appropriate spectacle--consisting of Britannia, personated by Mrs Chapman, under a rich canopy, with the figures of a sailor and a soldier for supporters, pointing to the letters G. R. over a brilliant sun, which turns on the center; shrouded in clouds above, and surrounded by angels, is a medallion of Lord Howe, and on columns on each side of the canopy are medallions of your great living naval commanders" (Monthly Visitor, Oct. 1799, p. 180). Receipts: #284 10s. 6d. (277.18.6; 6.12.0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Crouch. [Miss Jacobs, who had previously appeared at this theatre as a chorus singer, is identified in MS list in Kemble playbills of new performers for this season. Afterpiece in place of The Pannel, advertised on playbill of 5 June.] Morning Chronicle, 22 May: Tickets to be had of Mrs Crouch, No. 9, New Lisle-street, Leicester-square. Receipts: #520 16s. 6d. (233.11.0; 60.19.6; 0.4.0; tickets: 226.2.0) (charge: #213 0s. 4d.)