Event Comment: Never performed in this Kingdom. In the manner of an Oratorio. This is a species of entertainment borrowed from our volatile neighbors on the continent, and never performed in England before; that is not directly in this manner. [But see 4 May 1759.] The performance was divided into three parts: the First consisted of Mr Addison's celebrated Hymn, set to music by Mr Handel, which is a masterly performance; the second contained Miserere mei Dei, &c., the music compsoed by Sig Pergolesi; this is a noble performance; the third part consisted of a very fine anthem, by Sig Nigri of Milan, a work of great merit. A concerto on the French Horn (as 6 March) and a concerto on the Violin (as 11 March) (Theatrical Review, p. 220). Charges: #35 (Account Book)

Event Comment: [Fifty-sixth Day. Benefit Sig Piantofugo. Tickets for the 15th will be taken

Event Comment: By Particular Desire of several Ladies of Quality. Positively the last Night. [Intended as satire on the Reverend John Henley's Oratory (eccentric preacher, 1692-1756) and as a puff for The Midwife or Old Woman's Magazine, edited by Christopher Smart and John Newberry, 1751-53. The Old Woman's Oratory written and produced by Smart. See the Gentleman's Magazine, 1752, p. 43; and Horace Walpole's letter to Montagu 12 May 1752, as follows: It appeared the lowest buffoonery in the world, even to me who am used to my uncle Horace. There is a bad oration to ridicule, what is too like, Orator Henley; all the rest is perverted music. There is a man who plays so nimbly on the kettle drums, that he has reduced that noisy instrument to be an object of sight; for if you don't see the tricks with his hands, it is no better than ordinary. Another play on a violin and trumpet together; another mimics a bagpipe with a German flute, and makes it full if disagreeable. There is an admired dulcimer, a favourite saltbox and a really curious Jew's Harp. Two or three men intend to persuade you that they play on a broomstick, which is drolly brought in, carefully shrouded in a case, so as to be mistaken for a bassoon or bass viol, but they succeed in nothing but the action. The last fellow imitates farting and curtseying to a French horn. There are twenty medley overtures, and a man who speaks a prologue and epilogue, in which he counterfeits all the actors and singers upon earth' (The Yale Edition of Horace Walpole's Correspondence, IX, p. 131). [See 3 Dec. 1751.

Event Comment: PPublic Advertiser, 5 Sept. 1769: Mr Crawford and Co. beg Leave to acquaint the Nobility and Gentry, with the following List of their new Singers, and others engaged for the serious and comic Operas next Season. Those marked thus& are new Performers, viz. Principal Singers for the Serious Operas: &Signior Guadini, first Man. &Signora Cecilia Grassi, first Woman. For comic or serious: Signor Lovattini, first Man. &Sig Zamperini, &Signora Guadini, first Women. &Signor Piatti, 2nd Man serious. &Signor Bianchi, Tenor, Signora Zamperini, Sig Morighi, Signora Piatti. Composer: Sig Guiglielmi. Principal Dancers: Mr Slingsby, &Signor Galiotti, &Signor Siminon, &Signora Guidi, Signora Radicatti, &Signora Gardel. Ballet Master: &Sig Campioni. [See 7 Nov.