1721
[Giuseppe Riva to Agostino Steffani, London, Sunday 5 January 1721]
Internal affairs here are in a bad state with regard to the interest, commerce and credit of the nation....Bankruptcies continue, credit is unobtainable at the [Stock] Exchange, and this terrible situation has caused overwhelming confusion and the impoverishment of honourable men. [/47]
In spite of this, the opera house is always full at half a guinea a ticket, that is to say, at twice the normal cost. They have given twelve performances of the beautiful opera by Bononcini, and this evening one by Handel [Il Radamisto] will be staged for the first time. I heard the general rehearsal, and oh! what a difference [between these works] for one who loves music that touches the heart. Bononcini is preparing another, and intends to make it even better [than L’Astarto].[1]
[Giuseppe Riva to Agostino Steffani, London, Thursday 6 February 1721]
Here, ministers are preoccupied with the affairs of the South Sea Company, which may be the most serious [crisis] that this kingdom could ever endure, since it is a question of restoring the credit and public confidence that have been utterly ruined {...} [/52...]
Handel has restaged an opera [Il Radamisto] that made a great splash last year (in the land of the blind, blessed are the one-eyed), hoping thereby to crush Bononcini’s into the ground, but on the third evening the theatre was empty and the performance had to be cancelled.[2]
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The Court of Directors of the
Royal Academy of Musick finding several Subscribers in Arrear on the
Calls made on them this Year, do hereby desire them to pay in the same before Thursday the 20th Instant, otherwise they shall be obliged to return them as Defaulters, at a General Court to be held that Day, for their
Instructions how to proceed: And
it appearing to the said Court of Directors on examining the Accounts, that when the Calls already made are fully answered, there will still
remain such a Deficiency to render it absolutely necessary to
make a further Call to clear this Year’s Expence; the said
Court of Directors have therefore ordered another Call of 4
l. per Cent. (which is the 6th Call) to be made on
the several Subscribers, payable on or before the 27th
Instant. Attendance will be given on that and the two preceeding Days, at the Office in the Hay-Market, in order to receive the same.[3] |
Jul 9
On Sunday his majesty, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, went to the Royal Chappel at St. James’s, where Te Deum, with a fine Consort of Instrumental Musick was performed, and a new Anthem composed by the ingenious Mr. Green, Organist at St. Paul’s, was sung by some of the best Voices; but the Solemnity was not appointed upon any publick Account, as was reported. The Lord Effingham Howard carried the Sword of State before his Majesty, and Dr. Hoadly preached the Sermon.[4]
The Governour and Court of Directors of the RoyalAcademy of Musick, have appointed a General Court to be held on Wednesday the 25the Instant, at
Eleven in the Morning, at their Office in the Hay-Market, whereof all Persons concerned are desired to take Notice, and be present at the same; as also to order the Payment due
on their Calls.
Attendance is to be given at their said Office the two preceeding Days for the Receipt thereof, and a List of Defaulters will be laid before the said General Court, to receive their Instructions how to
proceed thereon.[5] |
Oct 25
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By Order of a General Court of the Royal Academy of Musick, held Oct[.] 25, 1721. Whereas some few of the
Subscribers to the Operas have neglected (notwithstanding repeated Notice has been
given them) to pay the Calls which have been regularly made by the Court of Directors, and according to the
Condition of the said Subscription, signed by each of the said Subscribers:
These are to give further Notice to every such Defaulter, That unless he pays the said Calls on or
before the 22d of November next, his Name shall be
printed, and he shall be proceeded against with the utmost
Rigour of the Law.[6] |
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The Directors of the Royal Academy of Musick have order’d a Call of five per Cent. which is the seventh Call, payable on the eighth Instant.[7] |
Nov 4
Last Saturday Night Mr. Law and his Son were present at the Opera of Arsaces, in the Hay-Market, when the Audience made them very sensible they knew who was in their Company.[8]
Nov 16
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SIR. J. VANBRUGH TO [LORD CARLISLE]. 1721, Nov. 16, Whitehall.—We are a little crippled in our Opera, by a letter from Durastanta, that she is not well, and can’t be here this winter; they go on however, and two new operas are preparing, but Heydegger is much in fear the Bishops won’t let his masquerades appear till the plague’s over. I’m told however the King thinks that no very staunch reason.[9] |
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Notice is hereby given, That
the General Court of the Corporation of the Royal Academy of Musick stands adjourned till Wednesday the 22d Instant, at 11
a-Clock in the Morning, at their Office in the Hay-Market; when the several Persons concerned are desired to be present, there being new Directors to be chosen at the
same time.[10] |
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Notice is hereby given, that the General Court of the Corporation of the Royal Academy of Musick (having met Yesterday and made Choice of new Directors for the Year ensuing) stand adjourn’d to this Day, at Eleven in the Morning, when they are to proceed to the Choice of a new Deputy-Governour. All Persons concern’d are desired to be present.[11] |
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Application having been made
to the Royal Academy of Musick, for Tickets intitling the Bearers to the
Liberty of the House for this Season:
The Academy agree to give out Tickets to such as shall subscribe on the Conditions following, viz.
That each Subscriber, on the Delivery of his Ticket, pay 10
Guineas: That on the 1st of February next ensuing the Date of
these presents, such Subscriber pay the further Sum of 5
Guineas: And likewise the Sum of 5 Guineas upon the 1st Day of
May following. And whereas the Academy propose the Acting of 50
Operas this Season, they do oblige themselves to allow a Deduction proportionably, in case fewer Operas be performed than
that Number. N. B. The Instrument lies open at White’s
Chocolate-House for Subscribers to Sign on the foregoing Terms; as also
another at the Opera Office every Opera Night.[12] |
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The Governour and Court of Directors of the Royal Academy of Musick have appointed a General Court to be held on Wednesday the 20th Instant, at Eleven a-Clock in the Morning, at their Office in the Hay-Market, on particular Business, when all Persons concerned are desired to be present.[13] |
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The Court of Directors of the
Royal Academy of Musick do hereby give Notice, That
pursuant to an Order of
the General Court holden the 20th Instant, they
have order’d a further Call of 5 l. per Cent. which
is the 8th Call from each Subscriber, payable on or before the 15th of January next:
And that the Deputy-Treasurer is to attend at the Opera-House in the Hay-Market, on the 12th, 13th, and 15th of the said Month of
January, in order to receive the same.[14] |
[1] Lowell Lindgren and Colin Timms, “The Correspondence of Agostino Steffani and Giuseppe Riva, 1720-1728, and Related Correspondence with J.P.F. von Schönborn and S.B. Pallavicini,” Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle 36 (2003), 1-174: 46-47.
[2] Lowell Lindgren and Colin Timms, “The Correspondence of Agostino Steffani and Giuseppe Riva, 1720-1728, and Related Correspondence with J.P.F. von Schönborn and S.B. Pallavicini,” Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle 36 (2003), 1-174: 51-52.
[3] The London Gazette, 5970, Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 July 1721, [1]; repr., The Daily Courant, no. 6152, Monday 10 July 1721, [2].
[4] The London Journal, no. 103, Saturday 15 July 1721, 2.
[5] The London Gazette, 5999, Saturday 14 – Tuesday 17 October 1721, [2]; repr., The Daily Courant, no. 6238, Wednesday 18 October 1721, [1].
[6] The London Gazette, 6003, Saturday 28 – Tuesday 31 October 1721, [2]; repr., The Daily Courant, no. 6251, Thursday 2 November 1721, [2].
[7] The London Journal, no. 119, Saturday 4 November 1721, 2.
[8] The London Journal, no. 120, Saturday 11 November 1721, 2.
[9] The Manuscripts of the Earl of Carlisle, preserved at Castle Howard (London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1897), 36.
[10] The London Gazette, 6008, Tuesday 14 – Saturday 18 November 1721, [1]; repr., The Daily Courant, no. 6266, Monday 20 November 1721, [4].
[11] The Daily Courant, no. 6269, Thursday 23 November 1721, [2].
[12] The London Gazette, no. 6010, Tuesday 21 – Saturday 25 November 1721, [1]; repr., The Daily Courant, no. 6272, Monday 27 November 1721, [1].
[13] The Daily Courant, no. 6288, Friday 15 December 1721, [1]; repr., The London Gazette, no. 6016, Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 December 1721, [2]; partly repr., The Weekly Journal: Or, British Gazetteer, no. Saturday 16 December 1721, 2110.
[14] The London Gazette, no. 6018, Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 December 1721, [1].