Event Comment: Pit and Boxes Half a Guinea. Gallery 5s. Second Gallery 3s. To begin at 7:00 p.m. Director-Vento; Ballet Master-Bouqueton, A New Comic Opera. Music by the most celebrated masters. [The Public Advertiser on 13 Sept. (notice dated 9 Sept.) had inserted a plea from the managers of the Opera to the Nobility and Gentry to enter their names at the office for season subscriptions in order that their names might be engraved. The singers and dancers who had been engaged for the season: Serious Opera. First Man-Venanzio Rauzzini; First Woman-Caterina Gabrielli; Tenor-Onofrio; Second Man-Manzoletto; Second Woman-Francesca Gabrielli; Last Man-Vincenzo Sestini. Comic Opera: First buffo-Trebbi; First buffa-Sga Sestini; Serious Man-Manzoletto; Serious Woman-Francesca Gabrielli; Second buffo-Fochetti; Second buffa-Sga Cardarelli; Third buffo-Vincenzio Sestini; Ballet Master: Bouqueton. Dancers: Fierville, Palladini, Helm, Mlle Escoelil, Sga Tinti, Mlle Sophie. Managers: Mrs Yates and Mrs Brook; Treasurer-Crawford.

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Sestini. Gherardi, though very ill, yet being unwilling to disappoint the Nobility, Gentry and Public who intend honouring Sga Sestini with their presence at her Benefit this Evening, has undertaken to perform in the best manner he is able, and hopes for the indulgence of the Audience. Opera: The music composed by Paisiello

Event Comment: Mainpiece [1st time; CO 3, by John O'Keeffe, altered from his The Banditti (see 28 Nov. 1781). Text in his Dramatic Works, Vol. 1 (T. Woodfall, 1798)]: With new Scenes [by Carver (O'Keeffe, u, 38)], Dresses, and a new Overture. The Selected Airs by Handel, Vento, Giordani, Giardini, Bertoni, Dr Arne, and Carolan, the Irish Bard. The Overture and New Airs composed by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. [This was Sga Sestini's 1st appearance on the English-speaking stage. For several preceding seasons she had been a member of the Italian opera company performing at the King's.] "Sestini . . . was handsome, sprightly, and a good actress, if great exuberance of gesticulation, activity of motion, and affected Italian smorfie could make her one; but her voice was gritty and sharp (something like singing through a comb), and she was nothing of a singer, except for lively comic airs. Yet she was . . . long a favourite with the mass of the public, though not with the connoisseurs" (Mount-Edgcumbe, p. 33). Account-Book, 30 June 1783: Paid O'Keeffe in full for The Castle of Andalusia #368 18s. 6d. Receipts: #166 2s. 6d. (165/9/0; 0/13/6)

Event Comment: [In mainpiece the playbill retains Sga Sestini, but "Previous to the Opera, Mattocks apologized for the sudden illness of Sestini; Mrs Martyr would, on a Notice of two Hours, attempt to read the Part" (.Public Advertiser, 9 Nov.). On 9 Nov. Sga Sestini gave birth to a son Qbid., 11 Nov.).] Receipts: #185 18s. 6d. (184/15/6; 1/3/0)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Sestini. Public Advertiser, 13 Feb.: Tickets to be had of Sga Sestini, No. 52, Margaret-street, Cavendish Square. Afterpiece [1st time; burl 2, by John O'Keeffe. MS: Larpent 616; not published]: Taken from the Italian of La Serva Padrona [by Gennaro Antonio Federico]. The Music chiefly the Original of Parosasi [i.e. Pergolesi, and so spelled on playbill of 17 Feb.]. The new Music composed by Dr Arnold. Books of the Songs to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #256 5s. 6d. (198/12/0; 7/3/6; tickets: 50/10/0) (charge: none listed)

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Sestini. A Comic Opera; the Music by Anfossi. Tickets, 10s. 6d. each, to be had of Sga Sestini, No. 38, Mount-street, Berkeleysquare

Event Comment: Benefit for Sga Sestini. Tickets to be had of Sga Sestini at No. 17, Mount-street, Berkely-square. Tickets delivered for the 19th inst. will be admitted