“The Opera of May 21, 1811”
On May 21, 1811, an opera was performed at the King’s Theatre, Haymarket. Reports of the plot, themes, and language of the opera have varied among those in attendance. The performance of the singers was well received, though most of the audience found the plot incomprehensible.
Plot
- Having seen the poster a few days before, Felix Sutcliffe thought that it had something to do with a marriage of someone who might have been called either Julia or Julius, and that there was a cohort of Roman centurions involved.[1].
- Cora Smith believed it may have been in either French or Italian and the title may have been La-- Something or Other.[2]
- Kate Steele was under the impression it had been set in the Jacobean era, however she also reported seeing men in togas, who she assumed were Roman legionnaires, as well as a Gothic-looking tower as part of the set design.[3]
- Ned Granville believed it to have been performed in Italian, and he too noted Romans at a medieval castle.[4]
- The Duke of Leighton thought it to be in Italian and that the plot contained excessive scheming, much of it maritally-motivated.[5]
- Tempest Wolfe doubted the plausibility of love at first sight, suggesting this was at least one plot point.[6]
- The Kincaides found the narrative ridiculous with more than one scene with a character ostensibly hidden behind some screen or set-piece, conspicuously overhearing whatever was going on at the forefront of the stage.[7]
- Alfred Cole and his sister could not follow the plot.[8]
Performance
Still a WIP. Edwina Abberley noted it was well-sung. http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3590-toast-tea-and-talk/&do=findComment&comment=50052 Cathy Seymour thought it very beautiful. http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3632-you-must-have-been-born-with-two-right-feet/&do=findComment&comment=49867 Charity Pritchard liked it. http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3602-if-you-cant-dance-to-this-you-cant-do-nothing-for-me-baby/&do=findComment&comment=50036 The Kincaides thought it well sung. http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3519-dont-you-know-that-we-are-living-in-a-golden-age/&do=findComment&comment=49766 John Howard thought it well sung. http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3552-escape-the-pain-of-life-that-you-know/&do=findComment&comment=47869
Attendees
Reference Threads
- ↑ "Parklife." http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3413-parklife/&do=findComment&comment=48586
- ↑ "I'm no pair of dancing shoes." http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3647-im-no-pair-of-dancing-shoes/&do=findComment&comment=50160
- ↑ "Red hair, sir, in my opinion, is dangerous." http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3633-red-hair-sir-in-my-opinion-is-dangerous/&do=findComment&comment=50067
- ↑ "Past the point of no return." http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3539-past-the-point-of-no-return/&do=findComment&comment=50150
- ↑ "One woman in her time plays many parts." http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3580-one-woman-in-her-time-plays-many-parts/&do=findComment&comment=49259
- ↑ "I Just Wanna Be Part of Your Symphony." http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3563-i-just-wanna-be-part-of-your-symphony/&page=2&tab=comments#comment-48349
- ↑ "Don't you know that we are living in a golden age?" http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3519-dont-you-know-that-we-are-living-in-a-golden-age/&do=findComment&comment=49766
- ↑ "If you can't dance to this you can't do nothing for me, baby." http://www.thelondonliferpg.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3602-if-you-cant-dance-to-this-you-cant-do-nothing-for-me-baby/&do=findComment&comment=49816