James (Jemmy) Collier et al. in Covent Garden Theatre, Covent Garden, London - early November, 1740
from The Letters of John Collier of Hastings, 1731-1746, page 181:
Letter from John Collier to his wife, Mary Collier, 27th November 1740
I now despair getting out till Munday, when I design Jemmy also goes for Cambridge; he is gone to the play tonight. The king is to be there and the Countess of Yarmouth is also expected and that the house would be full by 4. I think Jemmy told me he mentioned our being to see the new actress and the fine dancer Signora Barberini; I think she dances exceeding fine. Tonight Glover and all the top dancers are to perform.
John Collier et al, and Richard Saville (ed.), The Letters of John Collier of Hastings, 1731-1746 (Lewes, 2016), p. 181. https://led.kmi.open.ac.uk/entity/lexp/1692736798131 accessed: 17 May, 2024
Listeners
Listening to
hide composers
'Mars and Venus', a serious ballet
written by Johann Adolf Hasse |
performed by Barbara Campanini 'La Barberini' (dancer) |
'Italian Peasants', a comic dance
written by Johann Adolf Hasse |
performed by Barbara Campanini 'La Barberini' (dancer) |
Experience Information
| Date/Time | early November, 1740 |
| Medium | live |
| Listening Environment | in the company of others, indoors, in public |
Notes
Although John Collier's letter does not mention any music, a footnote to the letter in Richard Saville's edited collection identifies the dances performed by La Barberini and her colleagues. The composer of the music is known to be Johann Adolf Hasse (see, for example, Judith Milhous (1984) 'Hasse's _Comic Tunes_: Some Dancers and Dance Music on the London Stage, 1740-59', _Dance Research_, Vol. 2 No. 2, pp. 41-55).