Letter from Frances Burney to Susanna Burney, 4 December 1778

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

102

text excerpt

[L]ast Saturday morning [28 November] mine Fader sent a present of his History to Pachierotti, - by way of an incentive to the study of the English Language. At the Opera, at night, - he promised to call here on Sunday. And so - on Sunday morning he came, - attended by Signor Bertoni.

...

[H]e promised to come hither frequently, to take Lessons of Conversation: By way of beginning with vigour, he settled to Drink Tea here the next Day [30 November].

...

They came early, - and I am more pleased with Pacchierotti than ever; he seems to be perfectly amiable, gentle and good: his Countenance is extremely benevolent; and his manners, infinitely interesting...

He had a very bad Cold, - yet sung, - with the utmost good humour, as soon as asked. Bertoni accompanied him. He first sung a rondeau of Artaserse, -: it is a very fine one, and had it been a very execrable one, he would have made it exquisite: such taste, expression, freedom, fancy and variety never were before joined, but in Agujari. His Voice, however, was by no means clear, though extremely touching: but his Cold quite tormented him. He afterwards sung a song for a Tenor in the same Opera, - and admirably. Then some accompanied recitative to a song in the Orfeo of Bertoni: - and lastly the 'che farò senza Euridice.'

excerpt from 'Letter from Frances Burney to Susanna Burney, 4 December 1778' pp. 102 (231 words)

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