Some Observations made travelling through France, Italy etc., in the years 1720-1722

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

281

text excerpt

This Cardinal [Ottoboni] is a Man of great Courtesy and Generosity, and makes all his Entertainments da gran Prencipe, [as a great Prince;] one particularly at which my Lord Parker was present (I had the Honour of being there likewise) which they say cost him six thousand Crowns; it was in honour of the [then] new-elected Pope.

In the publick Piazza, before the Palace, was a Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, of a hundred and fifty Performers: There were two large Palco's or Galleries erected, one on each side the Piazza, for the Performers, with others for such of the Company as the numerous Windows of the Palace could not contain: At a distance, fronting the middle of the Palace, was a Machine, built in very handsome Architecture, rais'd on an Arch of Rock-work, with several large Figures, for the Fire-works: the four principal Figures representing the four Quarters of the World. These, with others at a further distance, which they call Girandole, whirling in a thousand Varieties before the Eye, and so numerous a Chorus of admirable Musick filling the Ear, gave a surprisingly magnificent Entertainment to both. The Musick was a sort of Drama, wherein the principal Personæ were the same as were presented on the Machine, i. e. the four Quarters of the World, who, sometimes in alternate Song, sometimes in united Chorus, celebrated the Praises of the new Pope, with the great Advantages arising to the World in general, and to Rome in particular, from this her Prince, Pastor, and Citizen.

excerpt from 'Some Observations made travelling through France, Italy etc., in the years 1720-1722' pp. 281 (256 words)

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1515696356951