Dr. Arne and Rule, BritanniaCummings, William Hayman
History
Dr. Arne and Rule, Britannia
Cummings, William Hayman
Arne, Thomas Augustine, 1710-1778
Concerto on the French Horn, and Mr. Storer will sing a favourite Song.
Master Neale, a child of ten Years old, will perform a Concerto on the
Violin, and Elin a Roon, with all its Variations." This advertisement
is of importance, showing that Arne had excellent orchestral players.
Mr. Charles[9] was a very skilful performer; possibly he had been
one of the Drury Lane orchestra. On the following 10th of February,
Mrs. Arne had a benefit at the Theatre Royal, Aungier Street, when
the programme consisted of "A Grand Serenata, call'd Love and Glory;
composed by Mr. Arne, in Honour of the Nuptials of His Royal Highness
Frederick Prince of Wales, with the Princess Augusta. After the
Serenata, a new Farce call'd Miss Lucy in Town,[10] with all the songs
composed by Mr. Arne, and performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury Lane."
A concert was given at the Music Hall in Fishamble Street, on the 4th
of May, for the benefit of the Charitable Infirmary, when Handel's
"Alexander's Feast" was performed. Mr. Arne conducted and Mrs. Arne
sang; "the Gentlemen of the Choirs of both Cathedrals and several other
voices" assisted. On Saturday, the 7th, three days afterwards, Mr. Arne
had a benefit at the Theatre Royal in Aungier Street, when the bill
consisted of "an Opera called Rosamond, Written by the celebrated Mr.
Addison, and set to Musick by Mr. Arne: King Henry, Mr. Baildon; Sir
Trusty, Mr. Layfield; Page, Master Pilkington; being the first Time
of his Appearance on any Stage; Rosamond, Mrs. Sybilla; Grideline,
Miss Davis; and the part of Queen Eleanor to be performed by Mrs.
Arne, After which will be performed the original comic burlesque Opera
called Tom Thumb. The Part of Tom Thumb by Master Pilkington; King, Mr.
Baildon; Lord Grizzel, Mr. Layfield; Queen Dollallolla, Miss Davis;
Princess, Huncamunca, Mrs. Sybilla; all the other characters, as
Noodle, Doodle, Foodle, Giantess, Conjurer, etc., by a select Company
of burlesque Opera Singers. To prevent Mistakes, Ladies are desired to
take their Places in Time, and on the Day of Performance to send their
Servants to keep Places before five o'clock."
The above programme was announced for repetition on the 27th of May,
for the benefit of Mr. Baildon and Mrs. Sybilla, but Mrs. Arne was
attacked by one of her frequent illnesses, which on this occasion
proved so serious, that her physician forbade her attempting to perform
"at the Hazard of her Life." In June she had so far recovered that the
deferred benefit was announced for the 11th of June, "being positively
the last time of Mr. Arne's exhibiting any Performance this Season."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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