Event Comment: A Serio-Comic
Opera in 2 acts (never performed here [1st performed at
Vienna, 1784; and in April 1795 performed at
king's under
the title of
Il Conte Ridocolo]).
The Music composed in his best style by
Paisiello. Under
the direction of
Mazzinghi.
Fineschi being hardly recovered from his late severe indisposition humbly hopes for
the indulgence of
the public, whom ra
ther than disappoint, he would run any danger.
Gallini, for
the last time, most respectfully entreats those few Subscribers who have hi
therto delayed of declaring
themselves, or sending in
the names of
their Co-subscribers, to do it immediately, as no one can be admitted without showing
the Ticket for this year; and
the Boxes not bespoke cannot remain empty after
the opening of
the House. Tickets to be had, and Subscription paid, as usual, at Messrs
Ransom, Morland and Hammersley's, bankers, No. 57,
Pall-Mall.
The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin precisely at 7:00 [see 3 Jan. 1788]. Pit 10s. 6d. 1st Gallery 5s. 2nd Gallery 3s. "
The only Part of
the scenery which is interesting is
the bridge Rialtov, and this is badly executed; it looks like a pantomimic show, but not like a grand
opera scene;
the bridge is crowded with figurative passengers, and small gondolas appear beyond it.
The first idea is a capital error, for
the representation of
the bridge is supposed sideways, and being covered with shops, no passengers can be seen;
the latter idea of boats being placed beyond
the bridge crowds
the scene, and makes
the bridge lose its grand appearance at a distance...
The Managers of
the Opera are exceedingly to blame for having substituted a Soprano to a Tenor in
the character of
Gafforio" (
Public Advertiser, 17 Dec.). Receipts: #164 14s. [
These receipts, and those on all o
ther nights throughout
the opera season, represent
the sale of non-subscription tickets. On this night 400 tickets were delivered to
Prendergrass, office-keeper at
the Haymarket pit entrance; of
these he sold 159 at 10s. 6d. (i.e. #83 9s. 6d.). 100 were delivered to
Toosey, office-keeper at
the King's Door pit entrance; he sold 26 at 10s. 6d. (i.e. #13 13s.). 300 were delivered to
Butler, office-keeper of
the 1st Gallery; he sold 190 at 5s. (i.e. #47 10s.). 200 were delivered to
Snelson, office-keeper of
the 2nd Gallery; he sold 118 at 3s. (i.e. #17 10s.). Sale of one box #2 2s. "Difference from Gallery to Pit" (i.e. money received from persons who changed
their seats from gallery to pit, 5s. 6d.).
The delivery of 1,000 non-subscription tickets to be disposed was almost invariably
the case on every night of
the season; but see 5 Apr. 1788.