Event Comment: The proprietors of the Opera House think it is their duty to lay before the Nobility and Gentry to whose patronage they are highly endebted a list of the engagements made for the ensuing season. [No attention or expense spared to make the operas brilliant. Gordon spent two months in Italy, and made two trips to Paris to select the best singers and dancers.] The ill health of Sg Carabaldi having prevented his setting out in time and made it impossible for him to be here at the opening of the theatre. Sg Scheroli, the Tenor who has played the first Buffo with the greatest reputation in Italy, has kindly undertaken to play the part until his arrival. Company: Serious Opera-Millico, Mrs Davies, Scheroli (Tenor), Sga Galli, Sga Lodi. Comic Opera-Carabaldi, Scheroli, Sga Marchetti, Sga Galli, Fochetti, Sga Lodi, Sga Gardi. Poet-Sg Badini. Master of the Dances-Petro. Principal Dancers-Fierville, Pico, Vicenzo Lorenzo, Bocchini, Mariottini, Sga Mimi Faviere, Sga Mazzoni, Sga Nina Faviere, Colomba (from Milan), Mr Canter. Book-Boxkeeper-Yates. [Requests nobility and subscribers to pay up their subscriptions.

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Pantomime (never performed). The Music entirely new, by Fisher, New Scenes, Machines, Dresses, and Decorations. Books of the Songs, Chorusses, &c. to be had at the Theatre. Nothing under FULL PRICE will be taken. [The note about full prices and availability of books of songs, &c. accompanies each subsequent bill for Sylphs this season. The Westminster Magazine (Jan. 1774) fears the afterpiece may have been composed by Woodward. The reviewer recounts the story in some detail, likes the paintings and scenery, but states categorically: "We do not hesitate to pronounce it the worst Harlequin entertainment we remember to have seen...The music too is very insipid and pilfered from other masters."] Receipts: #237 3s. 2d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Sunday 30 Jan-Saturday last died James Love, Comedian, Master of Edinburg Theatre, late of Drury Lane. Was educated at Westminster School and went from there to Cambridge (Winston MS 10). Rec'd stopages #19 19s. 6d.; Paid salary list #529 2s.; Mr King's extra salary #3. Receipts: #183 19s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mr Daigueville, late Ballet-Master, and First Dancer, at Drury Lane Playhouse begs leave to acquaint the Nobility and Gentry, that he continues to teach the Minuet, Louvre, Cotillions, Allemande, Minuet Dauphine, Country Dances, &c. at his house in King-Square Court, Dean St. Soho. Receipts: #251 14s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Fishar (ballet master). Charges #66 3s. 6d. Profit to Fishar #49 2s. 6d., plus #115 6s. from tickets (Box 156; Pit 155; Gallery 169). Paid Whitefield for cloaths of the pages #21 17s. 6d.; Paid Mr Capell for a suit of men's cloaths #5 5s. Receipts: #115 6s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Grimaldi, Ballet-Master, and Hurst. Receipts: #241 15s. 6d. Charges #74 14s. Profits to Grimaldi and Hurst: #177 1s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: [See Epilogue to the Rival Candidates at dl 1 Feb. 1775, wherein Weston comments on his Dog Dragon, "But should his master's sing-song melt your soul @ He'll be as soft as-Signior Rossignol: @ Will with harmonious howlings swell each note, @ And bark sweet music,--only from his throat."

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Woodman, late of Covent Garden, left a Widow with five Children. By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 6:00 p.m. [Public Advertiser, 21 Feb., contained a long letter concerning the small attendance on this occasion: "One of the finest Female Singers this Country has for many years produced is now, through a Series of Misfortunes as unavoidable as unforeseen, in a State of Wretchedness scarcely credible. [Her husband, a schoolteacher, died.] Alas! she had five helpless innocent to drink of the same bitter Cup, to harrow up all the Heartstrings of a Mother, and to tear her Soul unavailingly for that Support, of which she herself was depriv'd by the Death of their Father. [The expenses of the benefit performance exceeded the receipts of the house.] Calamity became heaped upon Calamity, and she is now weeping in a Prison, over her unhappy little ones, for a Sum not exceeding #50." Appeal is made for gifts to relieve her. On 23 May, Mrs Woodman released from prison, gave a Benefit Concert at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, concluding with an Occasional Musical Address to the Town called The Grateful Acknowledgment, written and the music compiled from a most eminent Master by Adam Smith, sung by Mrs Woodman.

Event Comment: Benefit for Lany, Ballet Master to the Opera

Event Comment: A New Serenata by the most eminent Masters

Event Comment: Benefit for Daguville (ballet master) and Helme (principal dancer). The Englishman in Paris deferr'd on account of Woodward's Indisposition

Event Comment: A New Comic Opera. Music By Gazaniga, a Neopolitan Master. Benefit for Signora Sestini

Event Comment: Benefit for Dagueville (ballet master) and Sga Vidini. Doors open half past 5. To begin a half past 6 o'clock

Event Comment: Paid Mountford [master carpenter] for Scene Men #15 19s. 3d. Receipts: #276 3s. 6d. (275.14.6; 0.9.0)

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera. The Music by several eminent Masters; under the Direction of Giardini [who also composed the overture (see 14 Dec.)]. With magnificent new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations, both for the Opera and Dances. Tickets will be delivered at the Office in Union-court, Haymarket, at Half a Guinea each. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. By Their Majesties' Command, No Person can be admitted behind the Scenes. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin exactly at 7:00 [same throughout season]. Care will be taken that no Inconvenience shall arise from the Pavement not being compleated in the Haymarket, the Commisioners having promised to leave the Way safe for Carriages. The Nobility and Gentry will be so obliging to give Orders to take up and set down with their Horses Heads towards Pall-mall. The Door in Market Lane for Chairs only. Public Advertiser, 21 Sept.: Subscriptions are received by Messrs Hoare, in Fleet-street, and by Johnson at the Office in Union-court, Hay-market

Event Comment: Opera: The Music by several eminent Masters [Giordani, Traetta, Hasse, Vento]; under the Direction of Giardini

Event Comment: Some of the Audience having objected to the Omission of a Scene on Friday night, that Scene will be restored this Evening. [Public Advertiser, 18 Oct., specifies the scene as that of Diana Trapes in Act III, the exclusion of whom "breaks a principal Link in the Chain of the Plot."] Paid Guard [master carpenter] for Scene-men #19 15s. Receipts: #287 16s. (286.8; 1.8)

Event Comment: A new Serious Opera [1st time; SER 3, by Pietro Metastasio; a pasticcio]. The Music by Bertoni and other eminent Masters [Myslivecek, Monza, Sarti]. 'Pacchierotti, who on this night made his 1st appearance in London, was] conscious that the chief delight of singing, and his own supreme excellence, lay in touching expression, and exquisite pathos...As an actor, with many disadvantages of person, for he was tall and awkward in his figure, and his features were plain, he was nevertheless forcible and impressive: for he felt warmly, had excellent judgment, and was an enthusiast in his profession. His recitative was inimitably fine, so that even those who did not understand the language could not fail to comprehend, from his countenance, voice, and action, every sentiment he expressed" (Mount-Edgcumbe, pp.24-25)

Event Comment: Opera: The Music by Bertoni and other eminent Masters [Paisiello and Gluck]

Event Comment: Paid Guard [master carpenter] of Scene Men #28 19s. 2d. Receipts: #216 12s. (214.6; 2.6)

Event Comment: Opera: The music by several Eminent Masters [chiefly Bertoni, with additions by Paisiello and Gluck]; under the Direction of Bertoni. Benefit for Pacchierotti. Tickets to be had of Pacchierotti, No. 20, Queen Ann Street, Westminster

Event Comment: [Mainpiece in place of The First Part of King Henry the Fourth, announced on playbill of 22 Sept.] Afterpiece: The Overture and the rest of the music composed by Dr Fisher. Paid Music 22nd Inst. #7 15s. 4d.; Properties 22nd Inst. 9s. 8d.; Wardrobe #6 11s. 6d.; Supernumeraries #1 19s.; Chorus Singers #1 5s.; Guard [master carpenter] for Scene Men #10 19s. 5d. Receipts: #194 13s. 6d. (193.18.0; 0.15.6)

Event Comment: Tickets delivered by Nash, Helme, Daglish, Dale, Brigg, Barthrope, Master Pulley, Mrs Lewis, Mrs Byrne will be taken. [In mainpiece the playbill retains Du-Bellamy as Lord Aimworth and Williames as Mervin, but on the Kemble playbill their names are deleted and MS annotations substitute Williames and Fawcett. This was Mrs Cargill's last appearance in London. Subsequently she acted in India.] Receipts: #231 17s. 6d. (32/8/0; 22/9/6; 0/15/0; tickets: 176/5/0)

Event Comment: Afterpiece [1st time; P 2 (?), by Thomas King. MS not in Larpent; not published; synopsis of action in Public Advertiser, 27 Dec.]: With Variety of new Scenes, Dresses and Decorations. With a Grand View of the Cumberland Fleet sailing for the Cup, and a Song and Chorus in Honour of the Institution. To conclude with a Pageant Rural and Pantomimical. [These were included in all subsequent performances.] The Music partly new and partly compiled [by Thomas Linley Sen.] from the best Masters. The Paintings by Greenwood and other eminent Artists. Nothing under Full Price will be taken. Account-Book, 17 Feb. 1783: Paid King in full for Harlequin's Wedding #47 1s. Receipts: #231 (225/10; 5/10)