Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) HISTORY OF THE OPERA, from its Origin in Italy to the present Time. WITH ANECDOTES OF THE MOST CELEBRATED COMPOSERS AND VOCALISTS OF EUROPE. BY SUTHERLAND EDWARDS, AUTHOR OF "RUSSIANS AT HOME," ETC. "QUIS TAM DULCIS SONUS QUI MEAS COMPLET AURES?" "WHAT IS ALL THIS NOISE ABOUT?" VOL. I. & VOL. II. LONDON: WM. H. ALLEN & CO., 13, WATERLOO PLACE. 1862. [_The right of translation and reproduction is reserved._] LONDON: LEWIS AND SON, PRINTERS, SWAN BUILDINGS, (49) MOORGATE STREET. CONTENTS VOLUME I. CHAPTER I. PAGE Preface, Prelude, Prologue, Introduction, Overture, &c.--The Origin of the Opera in Italy, and its introduction into Germany.--Its History in Europe; Division of the subject 1 CHAPTER II. Introduction of the Opera into France and England 12 CHAPTER III. On the Nature of the Opera, and its Merits as compared with other forms of the Drama 36 CHAPTER IV. Introduction and progress of the Ballet 70 CHAPTER V. Introduction of the Italian Opera into England 104 CHAPTER VI. The Italian Opera under Handel 140 CHAPTER VII. General view of the Opera in Europe in the Eighteenth Century, until the appearance of Gluck 172 CHAPTER VIII. French Opera from Lulli to the Death of Rameau 217 CHAPTER IX. Rousseau as a Critic and as a Composer of Music 238 CHAPTER X. Gluck and Piccinni in Paris 267 HISTORY OF THE OPERA. CHAPTER I. PREFACE, PRELUDE, PROLOGUE, INTRODUCTION, OVERTURE, ETC.--THE ORIGIN OF THE OPERA IN ITALY, AND ITS INTRODUCTION INTO GERMANY.--ITS HISTORY IN EUROPE; DIVISION OF THE SUBJECT.