1726
[Giuseppe Riva to Agostino Steffani, London, Sunday 17 February 1726]
Bononcini reminds your m{ost}. i{llustrious}. lordship of his reverent respect, and implores your continued affection. Here the opera is going to perdition. The directors have determined that Handel should assemble an opera with utmost speed while we await the arrival of Faustina [Bordoni], the sole refuge on which their hope is pinned. Bononcini has already presented [/102] three concerts at the [home of] the duchess of Marlborough, his good and generous patroness—all new stuff, but not in the new [i.e., pre-Classical] style. Cuzzoni and Senesino sing well at these events, where harmony and expression, nature and art give much pleasure.[1]
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[Lord Chamberlain’s Records] These are &c. to Mr: Christian Kitsh Hautboi Mr. Godfried Karpa Bason Mr. David Beswillibald and Mr. George Angel Double Basses, and Mr. Christopher Smith Tenor the sum of Eighteen pounds Eighteen Shillings for attending two Practices of the Te Deum and P[er]forming in the same before His Ma[jes]ty at St. James’s. Also to pay them the sum of One Pound Nineteen Shillings for Office Fees Amounting in all to the Sum of Twenty Pounds Seventeen Shillings. And &c. given &c. this 1st Day of March 1725/6 in the Twelfth year of His Majesty’s Reign. To Charl[es] Stanhope Esq., &c. Grafton Marginal entry: Hautboys and double Base &c. for P[er]forming in the Te Deum at St. James’s. £20.17s[2] |
[Owen Swiney, Venice, to Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond, 15 March 1725/6]
[...] Mr. Heddeiger may have a great power at ye board but I have experienced him too much, not to suspect him: and pray God that he does not play the same trick with ye academy, that he succeeded so well in, on me.
[...]
I beg your Grace now that you have got the Faustina, never to consent to any thing that can put the academy into disorder, as it must, certainly, be put into, if what I hear (to have been projected by Messrs. Haym & Handel) is put in Execution: I mean the opera of Alexander the great: where there is to be a Struggle between the Rival Queen’s, for a Superiority.[3]
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[Lord Chamberlain’s Records] These are &c. to Mr. [space ] Smith the Sum of Eight Pounds Thirteen Shillings for Scores and parts &c. in the Te Deum performed before His Majesty at St. James’s Also to pay him the Sum of Eleven Shillings for Office Fees. Amounting in all to the sum of Nine Pounds four Shillings and &c. given &c. this 6th. Day of April 1726. in the Twelfth Year of His Majesty’s Reign. To Ch[arles] Stanhope Esq. &c. Grafton Marginal entry: Mr. Smith for Scores &c. in the Te Deum perform’d at St. James’s £9:4–[4] |
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[ribbon] The COUNTRY GENTLEMAN. ____________________________ No. 18. Monday, May 9, 1726. ____________________________ Principiis
obsta. IT has a hard Matter to resist the Importunity of one’s Friends, especially when they are back’d by so prevailing an Advocate as Curiosity. This was my Case t’other Day, when Will Testy and one of my Secretaries, who is a Master of Languages came to see me, and made me promise I would go along with them to the Opera. When we came there, we found a prodigious Number of People drawn together to see two of the most famous Singers in Europe, Cuzzoni and Faustina. The latter comes to us with so superior a Character, that one might expect to hear from her, in Reality, whatever the Poets of old, have feign’d of Amphion, Orpheus, or the Syrens. Will advised me, to lash myself to one of the Posts of the Gallery, where we sate, as Ulysses did on the like Occasion, to prevent any Accident, that might happen to me from the Power of her Incantations; but I apprehended not any Danger from this new Comer, having found no ill Effects in the sweet Captivity of Cuzzoni. In a little Time, a Murmur spread itself all [202] over the House, and every Body seemed to be engag’d for one or other of these two great Rivals in Harmony; but as the Generality of the World is fond of Novelty, the Advocates of Faustina seeem’d to be much the greater Number. Some Ladies, who sate near us, were very partial indeed, and said, There was as much Difference between ’em, as there was between Mrs. Robinson and Boschi; but Nobody equal’d an Italian in the Fulness of Praise, who (speaking of Faustina) broke out into this Expression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . which my Secretary told us was in English . . . . . . . . . While we were thus entertain’d by the different Opinions of the People about us, we were join’d by my Poet, whose Curiosity had brought him to see this Dramatick Performance: He told us, That the ingenious foreign Bard, the Compiler of this Opera, intended at first to adapt the Action to the European Manners, and therefore, had married Alexander only to one of these Queens; but it seems, the other Lady was resolv’d, she would not be put off so; it being beneath the Dignity of her high Station to be slighted in such a Manner, knowing herself to be every Way qualified for a Wise, as well as the other: Upon this Remonstrance, he was ordered to married them both to this great Prince; but he, like a wise Man, understanding that Bigamy, in this Country is Felony by the Law, refus’d to do it, not knowing what Penalties an Accessary, in such, a Case, might be liable to. As this was thought a very reasonable Plea, he was in Hopes the Matter might be accommodated by marrying neither of them, and so leave them to shift for themselves, as well as they could in the Opinion [203] of the World; but it is a very nice Matter to decide in the Affairs of Princes; and it seems, our Bard had never in the least, consulted the Genius of the Emperor: For no sooner had this uxorious King Intelligence, that he was still to continue a Batchelor, and to be deprived of those sweet Hopes, which he conceiv’d to belong to a conjugal State, but he gave a Loose to his Passion, and would have killed him, as sure as he did his old Minister Clytus, but that his Javelin happened not to be pointed; it being a Maxim in Dramatick Opera Chivalry, not to suffer any of their Heroes to carry dangerous Weapons about them; and indeed (continued he) I can’t but say, I think this the greatest Affront, that can be put upon his Imperial Majesty, considering how quietly and peaceably he has behav’d himself to all his former Queens; nor can the most malicious Tongue give any one Instance of his Inconstancy. ’Tis true indeed, had this Match gone on, there might have been some Difficulties raised about the Succession to this great Empire, but as long as he kept so able a Minister as Boschi, ’tis very probable he would have taken Care, and prevented any Accidents of this Kind. This Account of the Intrigues of the Graecian Court diverted us very much; but the rest of the Audience seem’d to be under the greatest Uneasiness of Expectation; but in a very little Time, the Curtain was drawn up, and discover’d to us these female Potentates, in all the Rivalship of Glory. They beheld one another with such an Air of Respect and Caution, as shew’d they were conscious of each others Merit, and doubtful of the Event; which put me in Mind of that Rencounter of the two greatest Captains [204] in the World, and is describ’d by Lee in this Manner, Art thou the Man, they, the
fam’d Scipio call? Art thou the much more famous Hannibal? I shall not pretend to decide which of these Ladies has the most Merit, they being Beauties of a different Sort, and both animated in their Way; but if Cuzzoni exceeds in the Sweetness of Voice, and the irresistible Insinuation of her Manner, Faustina is as excellent in the Modulation of her Notes, and a distinguish’d Warble in her Throat, which is peculiar to herself, and is what the Italians express in an elegant Manner, Dono del Dio. These two Rival Queens have divided the whole Town; and there’s all the Reason in the World to believe, that in a little Time the whole Nation will be listed under their several Banners. It has been the Misfortune of this Country for many Ages past, to have been torn to Pieces by Parties and Factions. The different Interests of the Houses of York and Lancaster were attended with very fatal Effects; and the whole Kingdom groan’d under the Calamities of a Civil War, and notwithstanding this Difference was made up by the Marriage of Henry the Seventh, with the Lady Elizabeth, and by this Means the two Families became united, yet after a Reign or two the Fires of Persecution burst forth, and alternately destroy’d both Papist and Protestant. During the Reign of King James the First, our Holy Religion was attack’d by the Batteries of the Roman Catholick and the Puritan, and was entirely swallow’d up by the latter, in the Time of Charles the First, his Successor. The [205] Unanimity, which appear’d in the Restoration of the Royal Family, was soon dissolv’d into Faction, and the fatal Distinction of Whig and Tory took its Rise under that careless Government. After that, these Names were buried in the Ruins of Liberty, but reviv’d again soon after the Revolution, with this Difference, that they are now applied to Men of quite contrary Principles, than those to whom they belong’d at first. ’Tis said, that a famous State-Chemist designing to bring in a new System of Physick, and observing the Tories to give him a great deal of Trouble in his Practice, had invented a golden Cordial, which operated in such a Manner, that whosoever tasted of it, spoke directly contrary to what he thought: Having distributed this largely, amongst them, and in a Manner disabled that Party, he thought himself secure; but such is the perverse Nature of Men, who will be always taking Care of their own Health and Property, that in a very little Time, a set of honest sturdy Fellows rose up, and under the Name of COUNTRY GENTLEMEN, oppos’d this new System; but whether or no [sic] there be any Thing in this Story, Time alone will shew. I hope my Readers will pardon this long Digression, since the Design of it was to shew the dreadful Consequences of Parties in our Nation, and how dangerous the Names of Distinction may be, even from the smallest Beginnings. For my Part, I can’t help thinking; but these two Cromatick Queens may be as fatal to this Island as their Predecessors the Guelphs and Ghibelins were to Italy; and it looks the more ominous, because there is a great deal of Similitude in their History. [206] I must take the Liberty for the Instruction of such of my female Readers, whose Occupations may hinder them from looking into Books, to inform them of the Origin of those Party Monsters, who for a long Time wasted that delightful Country. These two Names deduce their Original from a Schism, which molested the Church in 1130, by the Competition of two Popes, Innocent II. and Anaclet: The greatest Part of Christendom acknowledging Innocent, Anaclet the Antipope had persuaded Roger, Count of Naples and Sicily, a Norman by Descent, into his Interests, who, upon the Emperor Conrad the Fourth’s, coming against him with an Army of Germans, allur’d to his Defence, Guelph Duke of Bavaria. During the Course of this War; the Emperor’s Son Henry, sometimes commanded the Army, who being brought up in a pleasant Village of Germany, call’d Ghibelin, the very Name of it was dear to him. One Day, the Armies being drawn up, and ready to engage, the Bavarians to encourage their Comrades, cry’d out, a Guelf! a Guelf! and the Imperial Troops being as well dispos’d to their General, in Complaisance to him, cried out on the other Side, a Ghibelin! a Ghibelin! These Words seem’d barbarous to the Italians, who came to Guelf to know what they meant: He told them, the Pope’s Party were intended by the Word Guelf, and the Emperor’s by the Word Ghibelin; from that Time those Names grew so common, that they were given to the Italians, according to the several Sides they took in this War. ’Tis true, at first, they were us’d only to distinguish Anaclet’s Party from the Emperor’s; but afterwards Roger, having vanquish’d Pope Innocent, [207] at the Price of his Liberty, he oblig’d him to erect the Countries of Naples and Sicily into Kingdoms, by which Treaty Roger being taken off, from the Interest of the Antipope, and engaging intirely with the Church, he affix’d the Name of Guelf to the Pope’s Party, and confirmed the Name of Ghibelin to the Faction of the Emperor. Now every Body knows, that Faustina is just come from Vienna, and is, no doubt, in the Imperial Interest, and consequently all her Party are Ghibelins: As for Cuzzoni, ’tis universally agreed, that she is a good Catholick, and attach’d to the Pope, so that her Friends can be distinguish’d by no other Name than Guelphs. How far this Contention may be carried, ’tis a hard Matter for human Foresight to discern; but I think, every Briton ought to pray fervently that while his Countrymen go together by the Ears upon this Occasion, their Properties may not be given away for a Song.[5] |
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SIR, I WAS in Company t’other Day, where your Paper upon the Opera was mention’d very much to your Disadvantage, by some Ladies not remarkable for the best Understanding. It seems, they are very much affronted at your calling them Names, for their espousing the different Interest of the Rival Queens Cuzzoni and Faustina. I suppose, they alluded to the Words Guelphs and Ghibelins,
which are the Appellatives you ingeniously make Use of to distinguish the different Factions, which have lately arisen in the Town, upon the Account of these two Ladies; indeed, they did not venture to speak out the Words, because, I believe they were too hard for their Pronunciation; but, Sir, before I left them, I made them so much ashamed of their Ignorance, and unjust Malice in this Affair, that they have promis’d to be reconcil’d to you, and only desire two or three Days time, to learn how to express the Words properly, that they may be able to declare which Side they are of. Sir, I hope for this good Piece of Service, you will not think me unreasonable, if I desire to be put upon the List of your Pensioners, for you must understand the World so well, that none of us care to give ourselves Trouble for nothing.
Your Compliance in this, will greatly oblige, SIR, Your most obedient Servant, and Admirer, E. WILDAIR. P. S. I am the same Person,
who writ to you once before, to recommend me to the wild Youth; [245] but you need not be in haste about that Matter, for tho’ we have had several Meetings, yet we are not come to an Agreement about the Title, having submitted it to you, that he should be given to the fairest; but I don’t know how it is, there is not one of them has given up their Pretensions yet. I am very much oblig’d to this Lady for her Friendship to me, and assure her, that upon the very next Vacancy she shall be provided for.[6] |
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AFFECTATION is vain Humour of endeavouring to appear what we are not, and therefore it is, that when People take notice of any one who is remarkable for some particular Quality which distinguishes him, they strive by their Imitation to make themselves considerable, and hope to come in for Part of his Applause; and if this Emulation went no farther than in Things really laudable, it could not be condemned: But the Generality of the World is too apt to set up a Standard of its own, and ascribe Merit to those Things, which are so far from being commendable, that they are a Disgrace to the Possessors of them. [... 318 ... 319 ...] Ironia has read some Books, and from hence concludes herself learned. She despises her own Sex, because they don’t understand the hard Words she introduces into Conversation, and they in Return, laugh at her, because she strives to be unintelligible. In an Assembly not long ago, talking of the different Powers of our two famous Songstresses, she expressed herself in this
Manner; ’Tis my Opinion (says she) that Faustina excels in the Crummatick and Catsoni in the Harmonick: Monsieur Toupet, who is entirely careless of what he says, told her, at that rate we have two of the most thorough-bred Singers in Europe, for if Faustina is superior in the Crummatick, to his Knowledge no Body was equal to his Friend Boschi in the Crustick. This he delivered with so malicious a Sneer, that every Body perceived the Mistake of Ironia, which was followed by so loud a Laugh, that she was forced to leave the Company.[7] |
[“ARGOMENTO.”]
N. B. Il solo primo Motivo ed alcuni pochi versi di questo Drama sono stati to<iti> da un vecchio Drama del medesimo titolo.
Il celebre Signor FEDERICO HANDEL ne compose la Musica, al sommo espressiva et armoniosa: ed il tutto fu eseguito in tre settimane.[8]
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[Mrs. Pendarves to Mrs. Anne Granville, 27 November 1726] Last Saturday [the 26th] I was at Camilla with Lady Carteret and her daughter, who grows very handsome. That morning I was entertained with Cuzzoni. Oh how charming! how did I wish for all I love and like to be with me at that instant of time! my senses were ravished with harmony. They say we shall have operas in a fortnight, but I think Madam Sandoni [Cuzzoni] and the Faustina are not perfectly agreed about their parts. Well, as I was saying, I was at the opera of Camilla: it is acted at Lincoln’s-Inn play-house, performed by a Mrs. Chambers, Mrs. Barbiere, Mrs. Fletcher, a Signor Rochetti, Mr. Leveridge, Mr. Legard. I can’t say I was much pleased with it, I liked it for old acquaintance sake, but there is not many of the songs better then ballads. [...][9] |
[Giuseppe Riva to Agostino Steffani, London, Tuesday 31 December 1726]
Here a Musical Academy [the Academy of Vocal, later called Ancient, Music] has been established by the best composers and singers, Italian and English. I have been admitted as a member, but without a vote and as a great amateur, along with three other men of taste with a fine nose. Bononcini and Handel are members and are leading lights of this noble institute. The repertory comprises madrigals, antiphons, duets, psalms and anything in which [true] harmony reigns. {...}[10]
But to return to the present taste in Poetry.—If this Corruption of the Age cou’d excuse a Writer for what he composes now, must it be carried down as far as Homer’s Days? must his Heroes love, and talk, and fight a-la-mode? must his strong, sententious lines, be set to the new polite airs of Handel and Bononcini? Yet, were what you wou’d alledge [sic] of any force, it wou’d carry the matter thus far; and the whole Iliad and Odyssey ought to be enervated down to the present taste.[11]
MUSICK.
APollo’s [sic] Feast: Or, the Harmony of the Opera Stage, being a well chosen Collection in Folio, of the most celebrated Songs out of the latest Operas, compos’d by Mr. Handel; done in a plain and intelligible Character, with their Symphonies for Voices and Instruments; carefully corrected. [...] Printed for and sold by J. Walsh, Musick Printer and Instrument Maker to his Majesty, at the Harp and Hautboy in Catherine-street in the Strand, and J. Hare, at the Viol and Flute in Cornhill.[12]
[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: 101-02.
[2] 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), 2:188v; Donald Burrows, Handel and the English Chapel Royal (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 609.
[3] Elizabeth Gibson, The Royal Academy of Music, 1719-1728: The Institution and Its Directors (New York and London: Garland, 1989), 363, 364.
[4] 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), 2:188v; Donald Burrows, Handel and the English Chapel Royal (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 609.
[5] Erasmus Philips, Miscellaneous Works, consisting of Essays Political and Moral (London: Waller, Lewis, Jackson, and Joliffe, 1751), 201-07.
[6] The Country Gentleman, no. 26, Monday 6 June 1726: Erasmus Philips, Miscellaneous Works, consisting of Essays Political and Moral (London: Waller, Lewis, Jackson, and Joliffe, 1751), 244-45.
[7] The Country Gentleman, no. 42, Monday 1 August 1726: Erasmus Philips, Miscellaneous Works, consisting of Essays Political and Moral (London: Waller, Lewis, Jackson, and Joliffe, 1751), 317-19.
[8] Paolo Rolli, P. C. Scipione (London: Thomas Edlin, 1726).
[9] The Autobiography and Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs. Delany, ed, Lady Llanover, 3 vols. (London: Richard Bentley, 1861), 1:125.
[10] Lindgren and Timms, “Steffani,” 108.
[11] [Joseph Spence], An Essay on Pope’s Odyssey: In which some particular Beauties and Blemishes of that Work are consider’d (London and Oxford: James and J. Knapton et al., and S. Wilmot, 1726), 22.
[12] The Second Volume of the Monthly Catalogue: Being a General Register of Books, Sermons, Plays, Poetry, Pamphlets, &c. printed and published in London, or the Universities, in the Years 1725, and 1726 (London: John Wilford, 1727), 119.