Event Comment: A New Opera. Musick-Jomelli. Text by Metastasio. First performance in England

Event Comment: [Music-Galuppi; first performance in England. Text from Metastasio but altered by F. Vanneschi; additional airs by F. Giardini (Loewenberg, Annals of Opera, p. 106.

Event Comment: A New Opera. First performance in England. The Musick composed by Sig Abos

Event Comment: Benefit for Morgan, the Oldest Actor in England. Last time of the company's performing this season. Tickets to be had at the Bedford Coffee House and of Mr Crudge at the Stage Door. [This charitable performance included a composite group from Drury Lane and Covent Garden.

Event Comment: Sunday the 21st about 4 in the afternoon I receiv'd an order form the Duke of Devonshire [Ld. Chamberlain] to Shut up the House 'till farther Notice, -Fryday 26th about eleven in ye Morn[in]g I receiv'd an Order from my Lord to open on the Monday following (Cross). Theatre clos'd from 20 January 1759 on account of the death of the Princess Royal of England, Countess Dowager of Holland & Governant of the United Provinces & of the Miny of the Stadholder (Winston MS 8)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Henry Jones. Afterpiece: [See note under cg play this night. During this year appeared An Essay Upon the Present State of the Theatre, in France, England, and Italy, a "work absolutely necessary to be read by every lover of Theatrical Exhibitions," printed for J. Pottinger. It contains twenty-two chapters on tragedy, thirteen on comedy, opera, authors, and the art of acting. Pages 147-51 discuss the obligation of English farces to French ones.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: A new Comic Opera--Music by Galuppi. [Text--Goldoni. First performance in England. The text notes music originally by Baldassar Galuppi called Buranello, and perfected by Gioacchino Cocchi. Burney (History of Music, II, 860) notes the extreme popularity of this piece, and the success of the Paganinis as singers in it.

Event Comment: At the Great Room, Dean St., Soho. By Desire. An Italian Oratorio in Two Acts. Words by Metastasio. Music by Jomelli. First Time of performing this Grand Musical Entertainment in England, and is judged by all conoisseurs to be the most exquisite piece of composition ever heard before. Pit Half a Guinea, Gallerias 5s. To begin at half past six precisely. A very strong rumour prevails, that leave will be applied for to the higher Power, for a third Theatre in this City; and it is even hinted, that two well-known performers have already ventured on a purchase, and are selecting together a company with that design (Public Ledger)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Gambarini. At the Great Concert Room, Dean St., Soho Tickets: Pit, half a guinea. Gallery 5s. Composed by Geminiani, who being lately returned to England, has lent the aforementioned composition in favour of this Benefit. Also a new Ode The Argument Britannia rising from the waves like the morning sun, pointing out her young Monarch, and predicts? the glory and felicity of his reign. The music composed by Sga Gambarini

Event Comment: First performance in England. A new comic Opera. Music-Bertoni, author of the favourite song Ah se un Cuor Barbaro, in Demetrio. [Libretto by Goldoni (Loewenberg, Annals of Opera, p. 110.)

Event Comment: A new comic Opera...By Command of their Majesties. Music-Galuppi. Overture-J. S. Bach. Text-Goldoni. The first performance in England. Deferred from 30 Jan., because of Martyrdom of King Charles I. [A general Practice upon the Stage at noon 28 Jan.

Event Comment: As Signora Mattei will leave England soon after the Operas are over; and as Mr Crawford will have no further concern with the Management of Operas, all the Cloaths used in the Burlettas and Dances, with many other articles, being his own Property and that of Signora Mattei's, will be sold. The particulars of which may be had of Mr Crawford at the finishing of the season

Event Comment: This Night a New Song was Introduc'd in the Pantomime upon the Prs Augusta's leaving England (well receiv'd) (Hopkins). New occasional Song in the Pant (Cross Diary). Receipts: #208 11s. (MacMillan)

Event Comment: The Book of the opera at the Theatre. Comic opera in 3 acts by Lloyd .Music by Mr Rush. [See reduction to two-act farce, 2 March 1765. First performance in England of C. S. Favart's Le Caprice Amoureux (a parody of Goldoni's Bertoldo).

Event Comment: By Command of their Majesties. Mr Garrick played Lusignan and Lord Chalkstone. It is almost impossible to express how finely he played both characters. The Prologue was called for. Mr Garrick went on directly to speak it--as soon as he appeared a general clap and a loud huzza,--and there was such a noise from the House being so crowded, very few heard anything of the prologue.--As soon as the play began there was a great disturbance in the Gallery, and some called out, Guards Guards! that they could not go on.--Mr Lacy went on the Stage, and looked up to the gallery, and came off again without saying anything.--They soon grew quiet, and the play went on.--Monsr Rousseau sat in Mr Garrick's box (Hopkins Diary). [Account in the Public Advertiser of the original story upon which VanBrugh founded some circumstance in his Provok'd Wife, signed Heartfree. The Gentleman's Magazine, January, in the Historical Chronicle section noted that Jean Jacques Rousseau arrived in England on 13 Jan. and "was at the play on the 23rd, and presented himself in the upper Box fronting his Majesty."

Event Comment: Text-Goldoni. Music composed by Niccolo Piccini; alder'd by Giovan Gualberto Bottarelli. First performance in England. Scene Painters and Machinists-Bigari, Conti

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 9 years. [See 7 Feb. 1757.] Mr J. Aickin hissed.--Mr Holland and Mrs Baddeley played well (Hopkins Diary). Mr Garrick had the honour of being with the King of Denmark Tuesday morning last, and conversed with him for near half an hour on the state of the stage in England and France. The King gave him an elegant gold snuff-box studded with diamonds as a small mark of the great regard he had for his extraordinary talents (London Evening Post, 14 Oct.)

Event Comment: The last night of the Subscription. A new comic Opera; Music-Fischietti [and V. Pallavicino; text by Goldoni (Loewenberg, Annals of Opera, p. 116), first performance in England.