1723
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Last Week arrived here the famous Italian Lady Cotzani, that we have formerly spoken of. ’Tis said, she is the finest Performer that ever Italy produced, which has raised the Expectations of People here to a very great Height; so that they promise themselves much more Satisfaction this Winter, than the Theatre has ever yet been able to afford them.[1] |
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Cotzani, the famous Italian Lady, we hear, begins to sing at the Theatre in the Hay-Market this Evening: She is to have 2000 l. for her Performance this Season. On Tuesday she had the Honour to sing before their Royal Highnesses, and several of the Nobility at Leicester-House.[2] |
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Mr. MIST, I Am obliged to take Notice of a virulent Libel upon me, that appeared under the Title of Annus Mirabilis, and pretends to be written by ABRAHAM GUNTER, Philomath. The Author is pleased to tell us, that on Saturday the 8th of December, through the Influence of a strange Conjunction, the whole Humane Species were to be affected in a Change of their Sexes; and that I particularly should, about Eight of the Clock that Evening, make an unusual Motion, and be seized with a strong Succession of the Muscles in my lower Parts. This is a flagrant Scandal on me, who have neither made any such Motion, nor felt any such Succession. It was past Eight of the Clock before I sung the Song of Si videte, &c. and I took out my Watch on the Stage before the Audience, to convince them that the threaten’d Hour was past without any such Change, as was pretended should affect me. And, indeed, the Abuse is no less on Mr. Gunter, who, I believe to be a very honest Man, and, I dare say, very innocent of this Libel; for I find, upon Enquiry, that it has POP’d out upon the World from the Contrivance of two Wits in Conjunction; but if such Defamation be their best Talent, I think they ARE-BOTH-NOT worthy of that Character. I declare to you, Sir, and I desire you to declare for me to the World, that I, by Order, that Night about Eleven, communicated the State of my Affairs to Mr. H---gg---r, who, upon the most candid Inspection and Examination of Matters, is ready to testify, that I have no more of the negative Quality peculiar to the Females, nor that I am positively any more a Man than usual. Believe me to be, in Recitativo, SIR, Your Well-wisher, And humble Servant, SENZINO.[3] |
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Seignora Cuzzani, the famous Italian Lady, lately arrived, began to sing at the Theatre in the Hay- Market on Saturday last: We hear she is to have 2,000 l. for her performing this Season.[4] |
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His Majesty was at the Theatre in the Hay-Market, when Seigniora Cotzani performed, for the first Time, to the Surprize and Admiration of a numerous Audience, who are ever too fond of Foreign Performers. She is already jump’d into a handsome Chariot, and an Equipage accordingly. The Gentry seem to have so high a Taste of her fine Parts, that she is likely to be a great Gainer by them.[5] |
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On Saturday Night last the celebrated Seniora Cutzoni, lately arriv’d from Italy, said to exceed all others in Voice and Judgment, perform’d a Part in the New Opera, call’d Otho, before his Majesty, and a numerous Audience, with the greatest Applause imaginable.[6] |
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On Friday Night last, the famous Signiora Cuzzoni sung at the Right Hon. the Earl of Burlington’s, before a very numerous Assembly of the Nobility, who express’d a general Satisfaction at the surprizing Performances of that Lady.[7] |
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On Thursday Evening his Grace the Duke of Newcastle gave a great Entertainment to the Nobility at his House in Lincoln’s-Inn Fields, where there was a fine Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, in which the famous Signiora Cazzoni perform’d a Part.[8] |
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LONDON. MAdam Cotzani continues to be greatly caress’d and admir’d; the House has agreed with her for two Years; and as her Gains are so very considerable here, there is no great fear of her leaving us at the Expiration of that Term. She has it in her Power, no doubt, to make a very considerable Fortune, since she is not only visited and entertained by our Nobility and Gentry, but is daily receiving valuable Presents from them. One has given her a fine Chariot; another a Pair of Horses; a Third a curious repeating Watch; a Fourth, a Diamond Necklace; a Fifth, a Pair of Diamond Earings; so that she already makes a gay Figure amongst us. It is to be wish’d that our own Performers were encouraged in the same manner.[9] |
Feb 3
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[John Gay to Jonathan Swift] [“London. Febr. 3. 1722/3.”] [...] Pope has just now embark’d himself in another great undertaking as an Au- thor, for of late he has talk’d only as a Gardiner. He has engag’d to translate the Odyssey in three years, I believe rather out of a prospect of Gain than inclination, for I am persuaded he bore his part in the loss of the Southsea. He lives mostly at Twickenham, and amuses himself in his house and Garden. I supp’d about a fortnight ago with Lord Bathurst & Lewis at Dr Arbuthnot’s, whenever your old acquaintance meet they never fail of expressing their want of you. I wish you would come & be convinc’d that all I tell you is true. As for the reigning Amusement of the town, tis entirely Musick. real fiddles, Bass Viols and Haut-boys not poetical Harps, Lyres, and reeds. Theres no body allow’d to say I sing but an Eunuch or an Italian Woman. Every body is grown now as great a judge of Musick as they were in your time of Poetry. and folks that could not distinguish one tune from another now daily dispute about the different Styles of Hendel, Bononcini, and Attillio. People have now forgot Homer, and Virgil & Caesar, or at least they have lost their ranks, for in London and Westminster in all polite conversation’s Senesino is daily voted to be the greatest man that ever liv’d. [...][10] |
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[Lord Chamberlain’s Records] These are to
Pray and require You to Pay or Cause to be paid to Mr: William Keitch Hautboi, Mr: Pessenwolt David and Henry Rosha Double Base the sum of sev’n Pounds Eleven Shillings and Six Pence for their attending one Practice of the Te Deum and performing in the same before his Maj[es]ty at St. James’s, And for so doing this shall be your Warr[an]t. Given under my hand this 12th day of Feb[rua]ry 1722/3 in the Ninth Year of His Majesty’s Reign. To Charles Stanhope Esq. &c. Holles Newcastle Marginal entry: Hauteboi & Double Base for performing in the Te Deum at St James’s £7.11.6[11] |
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The Court of Directors of the Royal Academy of Musick in the Hay-market, have lately made a Dividend of Seven per Cent. on their Capital; and, it is thought, that if this Company goes on with the same Success as they have done for some Time past, of which there is no doubt, it will become considerable enough to be engrafted on some of our Corporations in the City, the Taste of the Publick for Musick being so much improv’d lately.[12] |
Feb 23
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To Seignior FRANCESCO BERNARDO detto SENZINI, at the Opera-House in the Hay-Market. SIG. YOU must not be surprized at receiving an Address from a Person, who has not the Honour of being in the Number of your Acquaintance; for you must consider your self now in the Nature of publick Blessings, that is, Persons who serve the Publick: (For so they are call’d, as long as they continue in Place)[.] Therefore, as a certain Gentleman has said in a Dedication, you must be taken Notice of, and commended, whether you will, or no. The great Advantages this Nation has received from your Appearance amongst us, have made you the Subject of almost all Conversations; not only of the Vulgar, but the Learned. I happened the other Day to be engaged in a Dispute with a Vertuoso of our College, concerning the Disposition and natural Endowments of Persons of your SEX. The Argument was logically, Physically, and Philosophically handled on both Sides; I modestly urged, that it was not unreasonable to suppose you of a middle Nature betwixt us and Angels; which I was inclined to believe from the Sweetness and Melody of your Voice; for it seemed to me as if you had fetch’d your Musick from Heaven; to which my Antagonist answered with this Quotation from MILTON. The wise Creator peopled
highest Heaven With Spirits Masculine. Observe the Word Masculine, from whence he infer’d that you could have no Business there; for that the Gates of those Mansions of the Gods were for ever shut against you, wherefore he was of Opinion that there was a kind of Limbo made on Purpose for such Spirits as yours, if you had any; or else that you were sent in amongst the Women, where you must expect but bad Quarters. Finding him run into Raillery, I changed the Head of our Argument, and put him in Mind how many Persons of your Sex have been endow’d with great Wisdom and Sagacity, this he also denied, pretending to prove from natural Causes and Effects, that there could be no Wisdom where there was no Beard; and he would as soon believe, that you had a Son or Daughter, as a Grain of Sense. To strengthen his Assertion, he quoted LUCIAN, who, he says, has proved that an Eunuch cannot be a Philosopher. I was surpriz’d to hear a Man of his Learning produce the Authority of LUCIAN, an Author who, ’tis known, never said any thing seriously in his Life; and here I cannot forbear observing, how Men suffer themselves to be imposed upon by false Appearances. It is an Error that has long possest the World, that the Seat of Wisdom lies in the Beard: Our Theatres have not a little contributed to this Imposition; for you never see a Prophet, Philosopher, or Conjurer, introduced upon the Stage, with less than two or three Foot of Beard. But, methinks, that there is one Thing which seems to overthrow this common Opinion, and is a Proof that the Antients did not believe that Wisdom lay so singularly in the Beard; which is, that Apollo, the God of Wisdom, was always represented without One. And to tell you the Truth, I should have believed he had been one of your Class, if the Poets and Historians of Antiquity had not ascribed to him a numerous issue, begot in stolen Intrigues upon the Bodies of the most beautiful Nymphs of those Times. I take this silly Notion to be a great deal more modern than some would make it. But to silence every Thing that can be said on that Side of the Question, I shall make Use of one easy Argument, which can neither be disputed, nor denied. Have not several of the fair Sex, whose smooth Chins were conscious of no Beard, been renowned for Learning, Prudence, and consummate Wisdom? Was not Aspacia, a beautiful Maid of Alexandria, a deep Philospher? Were not Thomyris Queen of Scythia, Semiramis, Queen of Babylon, <as our> own Queen Elizabeth, most profound Politicians? Yet will any Man pretend to maintain that the Wisdom of these celebrated Ladies lay in their Beards? No, certainly! that wou’d overthrow the very Foundation of this ridiculous Opinion; then whereabouts will they place it? In short, they have not one shift to fly to. Again, they tell us, that Courage, as well as Wisdom, lies in the Beard; must the same Thing be a Type, a Figure, or Symbol, to signify and represent such different Qualifications? indeed, the military Heroes of our Times (the greatest Part of whom never saw the War) in their Looks and Gestures make open Pretences to Courage; but far be it from them to lay Claim to any Accomplishments of the Mind; perhaps, such an Assumption might hinder their Preferment; but be that as it may, thus much however we know, that even their God Mars himself, who was always drawn terrible with a Beard, was one of the hard Heads: From all which we may make the same Conclusion, which LUCIAN has merrily done before us, that if Wisdom were to be judg’d by Length of Beard, a Goat may carry the Prize from all the Philosophers of the Age. So feeble then are all the Objections raised against thy Merit, O Senzini, that they fall of themselves for want of Reason to support them. And tho’ my Respect for you has ever been great, yet does it rise almost to Veneration, since I have been informed of your great skill in Astrology and Divination. This the Envious may question too, perhaps; Infidels that will believe Nothing but what they see. But do not all the Learned allow, that it is common for Maids to receive Intimations of Things to come, by Dreams; and the chast Spirits of the upper Air will not communicate themselves to any thing but Virgins? Of old, throughout all Greece, the Answers of the Oracles were constantly delivered by a Virgin; then who can be presum’d to have a Familiarity with those kind Demons so much as One, whose Virginity was never questioned? [1328] When I hear thy Musick, I become almost a Pythagorean; and am disposed to believe that the Soul of Orpheus informs thy Body; and then it is that I am more fix’d in my belief of your Knowledge of Futurity: For I read that Orpheus was the first of all the Grecians, who was learned in Astrology and Divination, to which he was assisted by his great skill in Musick. Indeed, if we look round upon the Professors of this Branch of the Mathematicks, an Objection will arise, which is, that very few of them can be mistaken for Conjurers. However, they meet with a very good Regard, and are acceptable in the most polite Assemblies, from a Power and Dexterity of managing their Instruments, which, I think,
is not one of your Talents. But your Organs are employed in a different Way, and your Faculties more turn’d to the Speculative. It is an an Observation of the Indulgence of Nature; that where any Sense is defective, that Defect is supplied in a double Portion of Sensation another Way. Now as this is in some Degree your Case, the Respect, which I have for you, makes me wish that you would put your occult Powers into Motion, and endeavour not to be barely, Vox, & praeterea Nihil. I dare promise before-hand you are cut out for something more than Singing; and, whenever you are pleased to exert in Prognostication, will do as well as those old Gentry, the Sibylls. It is plain, that He, who is learned in the Divine Science of Musick, and is not subject to gross Avocations, may comprehend all Things beneath the Moon; nay more, may converse among the Stars, and by the Force of Harmony may call round him the wandring Spirits of the Air, or allure those whose dark Abode is beyond the River Acheron, and compel them to declare what there is in Fate. As I am under a strong Conviction that this Power is in you, it is my Request to you, that tho’ you are a Stranger to our Land, nevertheless you would employ your Skill in inquiring into the Fate of this poor Country for seven Years to come. Conjure up the Spirits of ENGLISH Patriots who are long departed; retire to some solitary Grove at dead of Night, dig a Hole and sprinkle it with the Blood of Sheep, then take your Lyre, and you will charm up the Ghosts of all the wise Men, that have died for many Ages. This was the Method which Ulysses took by the Direction of Circe, when he called up a Thousand Spirits from the Deep, and among them was that of his Mother, by whom he was informed of all that should happen to him. When you have done this, let your Predictions be made publick; that the People may no longer listen and be imposed upon by the Forgeries of pretended Philomaths, and common Almanack-Makers. So may Astrology and Musick flourish together, and the World not have Cause to reproach us, that we have given away so much Money for a Song. P.S. If you design me the Honour of communicating any thing in Answer to this, send it to the Publisher of this Paper, directed for Yours, GRESHAMITE[13] |
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[Lord Chamberlain’s Records] These are to require You to Swear and Admit
Mr: George Hendall into the place and quality of Composer of Musick for his
Majesty’s Chappel Royal To have hold Exercise, and Enjoy the said place
together with all rights, Profitts, Privileges, and Advantages thereunto belonging; And for
so doing this shall be Your Warrant Given &c. this 25th day of Feb[rua]ry
1722/3 in the Ninth Year of his Majesty’s Reign. To His Majesty’s Gent[lemen] Ushers &c. Holles
Newcastle Marginal entry: Mr. Geo: Hendall to be sworn Composer of
Musick for his Maj[es]ty’s Chap[e]l Roy[a]l.[14] |
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The new Opera Tickets are very high, and like to continue so as long as Mrs. Cotzani is so much admired. They are traded in at the other End of the Town, as much as Lottery Tickets are in Exchange-Alley.[15] |
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The Presentment of the Ridotto’s by the Grand Jury, has as yet had no Effect on the Managers of that Entertainment, and as they can’t be prosecuted till next Term, the number of Nights allotted for that Diversion will be over before that time.[16] |
An Establishment of certain Annual Pensions and Bountys, which Our Pleasure is shall commence from the 25th Day of March 1723 and be paid and accounted payable Quarterly during our Pleasure, and apon the Death of any of the Persons receiving the same or other determination of our Pleasure therein.
[...]
per Annum
George Frederick Handel 400- - [17]
Mar 26
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On Tuesday Night the Opera of Otho was perform’d at the Hay-Market, for the Benefit of the famous Signora Cuzzoni the Italian Singer: upon which Occasion there was an extraordinary Concourse of Nobility and Gentry at that Theatre.[18] |
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On Tuesday last was perform’d the Opera of Otho, King of Germany, for the Benefit of Mrs. Cuzzoni; and a considerable Benefit it was to her indeed, for, we hear that some of the Nobility gave her 50 Guineas a Ticket. Notwithstanding the Town so much admires this Lady’s Performance, yet there are several who believe that Mrs. Tofts was equal to her in every Respect; but she was not born in Italy. Why Musick should be confined only to that Country is what we cannot perceive; since no Person that ever came out of it equal’d the Harmony of our famous Purcell. As we delight so much in Italian Songs, we are likely to have enough of them, for as soon as Cuzzoni’s Time is out, we are to have another over; for we are well assured Faustina, the fine Songstress at Venice, is invited, whose Voice, they say, exceeds that we have already here; and as the Encouragement is so great, no doubt, but she will visit us, and, like others, when she makes her Exit, may carry off Money enough to build some stately Edifice in her own Country, and there perpetuate our Folly.[19] |
[Giuseppe Riva to Agostino Steffani, London, Thursday 3 June 1723]
Here, because of the factionalism that is the soul of this agitated country, which takes its nature from the element [water] that surrounds it, we have, beside Bononcini and Handel, a third composer, named Signor alias Father Attilio Ariosti, one of whose opera [Coriolano] has had a very good reception. Bononcini, being employed, will still remain here next year, but will then leave the field free [for others].[20]
[Papers of Jane Martha Temple, Lady Portland; Single ms leaf with “orders” in French for Princess Anne’s daily schedule]
Order given at their house / Sunday evening 9 June 1723 / Rise at 7; pray till 8, dress and have breakfast; from 8 till 9 go for a walk; read from 9 till 10; from 10 till 11 read aloud with the grienault [Amelia? Caroline?] and discuss what she has read on her own; study from 11 till 12; at noon go to prayers till 1; between 1 and 2 lunch; from 2 till 3 play shuttlecock or walk and discuss rational matters; work from 3 to 4 while the grienault reads; from 4 to 5 either practice clavecin or read; after that, play music with Handel; at 6:30 go for a walk when the weather is nice.[21]
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They write from the Bath, that Mrs. Cuzzoni, the famous Italian Singer, has been down there all the Season, much to the Satisfaction of the Quality and Gentry, and not a little to her own; she usually disposing of Six Hundred Tickets for her own Share, at Half a Guinea a Piece every time she sung in publick, which was never less than once a Week.[22] |
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[Audit Office Declared Accounts of the Paymaster of Pensions of 1723] George Frederick Handell at the same rate [£200/year] for ½ a year ended at Lady 1723 by vertue of the Old Estab[lishmen]t. 100 £ more to him at 400 £ p annum for ¼ of a year to Midsr. 1723 by the New Establisht. 100 £ in both.[23] |
[Gio. Giacomo Zamboni to Giuseppe Riva in Hanover, 5/16 November 1723]
I believe that they will begin with the last opera of last season, [Flavio] by Hendel, in which [Alexander] Gordon will be replaced by a new virtuoso, named [Giuseppe] Bigonzi, {...}[24]
[Gio. Giacomo Zamboni to Giuseppe Riva in Amsterdam, 6/17 December 1723]
Bononcino, besides being quite enraged over the ill-success of his opera, has been so ill that he could not play for the third performance [on December 4]; so he asked Attiliazzo [Ariosti]. On Wednesday [December 11] they will perform [Handel’s] Ottone, after having performed [Bononcini’s] Farnace only four times.[25]
[1] The London Journal, no. 180, Saturday 5 January 1722-3, 3; reported, William C. Smith, “Handeliana,” Music & Letters 31 (1950), 125-32: 131.
[2] The London Journal, no. clxxxi, Saturday 12 January 1722-23, 3.
[3] The Weekly Journal or Saturday’s-Post, no. 220, Saturday 12 January 1723, 1293; repr. Elizabeth Gibson, The Royal Academy of Music, 1719-1728: The Institution and Its Directors (New York and London: Garland, 1989), 410-11.
[4] The St. James’s Journal, no. 39, Saturday 19 January 1723, 232.
[5] The London Journal, no. 182, Saturday 19 January 1722-3, 3; repr., William C. Smith, “Handeliana,” Music & Letters 31 (1950), 125-32: 131.
[6] The British Journal, no. 18, Saturday 19 January 1723, 3.
[7] The St. James’s Journal, no. 40, Saturday 26 January 1723, 238.
[8] The St. James’s Journal, no. 41, Saturday 2 February 1723, 2[46].
[9] The London Journal, no. clxxxiv, Saturday 2 February 1722-23, 3.
[10] British Library, Add. Ms. 4805, f. 83v; repr. Letters, written by the late Jonathan Swift, D. D. Dean of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, and several of his Friends. From the Year 1703 to 1740. Published from the Originals; with Notes explanatory and Historical, by John Hawkesworth, L.L.D., 3 vols (London: T. Davies, R. Davis, L. Davis and C. Reymers, and J. Dodsley, 1766), 2:249-50.
[11] Donald Burrows, “Handel and the English Chapel Royal during the Reigns of Queen Anne and King George I,” 2 vols. (Ph.D. dissertation, Open University, Milton Keynes, 1981), 2:188r; Donald Burrows, Handel and the English Chapel Royal (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 608.
[12] The London Journal, no. 186, Saturday 16 February 1722-3, 8.
[13] The Weekly Journal or Saturday’s-Post, no. 226, Saturday 23 February 1723, 1327-28; repr. (with omissions) Elizabeth Gibson, The Royal Academy of Music, 1719-1728: The Institution and Its Directors (New York and London: Garland, 1989), 411-13.
[14] Donald Burrows, “Handel and the English Chapel Royal during the Reigns of Queen Anne and King George I,” 2 vols. (Ph.D. dissertation, Open University, Milton Keynes, 1981), 2:188r; Donald Burrows, Handel and the English Chapel Royal (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 608.
[15] The London Journal, no. clxxxviii, Saturday 2 March 1722-23, 3.
[16] The London Journal, no. clxxxviii, Saturday 2 March 1722-23, 3.
[17] Donald Burrows, “Handel and the English Chapel Royal during the Reigns of Queen Anne and King George I,” 2 vols. (Ph.D. dissertation, Open University, Milton Keynes, 1981), 1:257v, n.38.
[18] The St. James’s Journal, no. 49, Saturday 30 March 1723, 293.
[19] The London Journal, no. 192, Saturday 30 March 1723, 3; repr., William C. Smith, “Handeliana,” Music & Letters 31 (1950), 125-32: 131.
[20] 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: 87.
[21] Richard G. King, “On Princess Anne’s Lessons with Handel,” Newsletter of the American Handel Society 7/2 (August 1992), 4.
[22] The London Journal, no. ccxxi, Saturday 19 October 1723, 3.
[23] David Hunter, “Royal Patronage of Handel in Britain: The Rewards of Pensions and Office,” in Handel Studies: A Gedenkschrift for Howard Serwer, ed. Richard G. King (Hillsdale, NY: Pendragon Press, 2009),127-53: 130.
[24] Lowell Lindgren, “Musicians and Librettists in the Correspondence of Gio. Giacomo Zamboni (Oxford, Bodleian Library, MSS Rawlinson Letters 116-138),” [Royal Musical Association] Research Chronicle 24 (1991), 1-194: 63.
[25] Lindgren, “Zamboni,” 66.