Richard Edgcumbe in UK - late 18th Century

from Musical Reminiscences: Containing an Account of Italian Opera in England, From 1773. The Fourth Edition, Continued to the Present Time, and Including The Festival in Westminster Abbey., page 23:

The earliest singer I remember in that line [comic opera] was Sestini, who at her first coming over was handsome, sprightly, and a good actress, if great exuberance of gesticulation, activity of motion, and affected Italian smorfie could make her one; but her voice was gritty and sharp (something like singing through a comb), and she was nothing of a singer, except for lively comic airs.

cite as

Richard Edgcumbe, Musical Reminiscences: Containing an Account of Italian Opera in England, From 1773. The Fourth Edition, Continued to the Present Time, and Including The Festival in Westminster Abbey. (London, 1834), p. 23. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1445957972281 accessed: 1 December, 2024

location of experience: UK

Listeners

Richard Edgcumbe
Amateur Actor, Amateur Musician, Politician, Writer
1764-1839

Listening to

hide composers
performance of 'Unknown' performed by Sestini

Experience Information

Date/Time late 18th Century
Medium live

Originally submitted by Gorwel Owen on Tue, 27 Oct 2015 14:59:33 +0000
Approved on Fri, 05 Feb 2016 12:16:47 +0000