Event Comment: A New Opera. [The first performance in England; text by Metastasio. The Musick composed by Sg Hasse (by Perez according to the Public Advertiser of 26 April).

Event Comment: Benefit for Barrington and Miss Young. Books of the opera will be sold at the theatre, at 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Howard and Mrs Lampe. Afterpiece: A Burlesque Opera not performed these 10 years [see 30 April 1742], being the sequel to the Dragon of Wantley. Music composed by the late Mr Lampe

Event Comment: [T+The Beggar's Opera had been advertised as by desire, but seems not to have been played.

Event Comment: The play of Merope will be reviv'd on Tuesday next, at Drury Lane, in which Mr Holland, who play'd the part of Oroonoko, will appear in the character of Eumenes. The Opera of the Fairies (By Desire) will be performed there someday next week. Receipts: #160 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire. A great Noise, the whole House against us-When Garrick appear'd one from the Slips cry'd out Monsieur, & great Numbers Hiss'd-the play went on-wch done, the Mutiny began, amazing noise-no plating, except one Apple; ye pit to ye Boxes cry'd-now draw yr Swords, wch makes us think, the Riot was occasion'd by the Box people being so busy & turning some out of the pit & Gall: before. Some benches were pull'd up, & Mr Lacy gave up the Dance to appease 'em-being Sat: our friends were at ye Opera, & the common people had leisure to do Mischief (Cross). [Lynham in The Chevalier Noverre, quotes from the Journal Etranger of 25 Nov. 1775: 'The blackguards...tore up the benches and threw them into the Pit on the opposing party; they broke all the mirrors, the chandeliers, &c., and tried to climb onto the stage to masacre everybody; but, as there is a magnificent organization in this theatre, in three minutes all the decor had been removed, all the traps were ready to come into play to swallow up those who might venture up, all the wings were filled with men armed with sticks, swords, halberds, &c., and behind the scenes the great reservoir was ready to be opened to drown those who might fall on the stage itself."Cross lists no Receipts.

Event Comment: This night the Riot was very Great, the Gentlemen came with Sticks, & tho' the play went on quiet 'till the last Act, we had there a great Stop, notwithstanding we ended it, & then the rout went on, ye Boxes drove many out of the Pit, & broken heads were plenty on both Sides; the dance began,--was Stop'd--& so again & again--while this was doing numbers were assembl'd in the Passages of the pit, broke down & were getting into the Cellar, but were repuls'd by our Scene men &c.--heavy blows on both sides--Justice Fielding--& Welch came with Constables & a Guard; but without effect, tho' the Justices stood upon ye Stage--I thought ye proclamation must have been read--after ye battle in the Passages numbers went & broke Garrick's Windows in Southhampton Street, --part of ye Guard went to protect it-Garrick was oblig'd to give up the Dancers-& ye Audience disperc'd (Cross). This day publish'd at 1s. The Country Coquet; or, Miss in her Breeches, a Ballad Opera, as it may be acted at Drury Lane. @Men, some to business, some to pleasure take@But every woman is at heart a Rake.@ Pope By a Young Lady. Printed for and sold for J. Major, in Three-Tun Court, leading from the Ship in Ivy Lane into Newgate Market. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

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

Event Comment: The Introduction (tho left out of the Bills) was call'd for, & had some Applause (Cross). Books of the opera sold at the theatre. Receipts: #140 (Cross)

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: Books of the opera will be sold in the theatre for 1s. each. Receipts: #90 (Cross)

Event Comment: Afterpiece from ye Village Opera (Cross). Benefit for Mrs Pritchard. Tickets at her house in York St., and at Pritchard's Warehouse in Tavistock St. Receipts: #240 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Clive. Mainpiece: Written by Colley Cibber. [The Old Maid for 8 May 1756 reviewed this performance of Lethe, or possibly the one with the same cast on 30 April. The reviewer was 'particularly diverted with Mrs Clive's Italian Song, in which this truly humorous actress parodys the Air of the Opera, and takes off the action, of the present favorite female at the Hay-Market, with such exquisite ridicule, that the most zealous partisans of both, I think, must have applauded the comic genius of Mrs Clive, however they might be displeased with this application of it." The reviewer is lukewarm in praise of the "New Character"..."What is there new in a Lord's having Gout, loving a bottle, pretending to taste, or being follow'd by a flatterer?"] Receipts: #210 (Cross)

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

Event Comment: Benefit for Bencraft and Mrs Lampe. Afterpiece: Perform'd but once these ten years [see 8 May 1755], a Burlesque Opera being a Sequel to the Dragon of Wantly, Music composed by the late Mr Lampe

Event Comment: Being the last time of performing this opera

Event Comment: [This month in the Gentleman's Magazine (p. 168) in an article entitled an Estimate of the Manners and Principles of the Times, appeared this paragraph: 'Tho' a great genius has rendered the stage the last refuge of manly taste, and with a variety of powers beyond example, establish'd nature. Shakespeare and himself, yet it is to be feared the crowd of spectators is drawn by secondary circumstances, as the fashionable part of it sit with the same face of admiration at Lear, an Opera, and a pantomime.'

Event Comment: A new Opera. Musick composed by Felice Giardini

Event Comment: We Play'd at Covent Garden the Beggars Opera & ye School Boy for Mr Morgan's Benefit, several of our Company play'd, with leave from ye Managers (Cross)

Event Comment: The last time of performing this Opera

Event Comment: A New Opera. The Musick newly composed by Cocchi. No persons whatsoever to be admitted behind the Scenes

Event Comment: A pasticcio, with libretto by G. A. Migliavacca; music by F. G. Bertoni, Handel, Davide Perez (Deutsch, Handel, p. 793). A New Opera, with new Decorations and Dances. It will be performed Tuesday and Zenobia on Saturdays (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: Tomorrow Mariamne. This day publish'd at 6d. The Prophetess; or, The History of Dioclesian, a Dramatic Opera as it is performed at Covent Garden. Printed for J. and R. Tonson in the Strand. Receipts: #160 3s. 6d. (Account Book)

Event Comment: A New Opera. Ths Musick newly composed by Sig Cocchi. New Clothes, Decorations, and Dances. [On Monday 13 March Sga Frasi published in the Public Advertiser thanks for those who supported her benefit (6 March) and apologized for deficiencies in the performances. Some of the principals were engaged in the run of the new tragedy [The Prophetess? Mariamne?] whose run she could not anticipate.

Event Comment: A New Opera. With New Decorations