Lord L---- declares he never saw anything equal to her, even on the
French stage, in the article of transition from passion to passion
in comic life. She is perfect mistress of music, and plays admirably
well on the harpsicord; having great neatness, and more expression and
meaning in her playing, than is often found among lady-players.--In
this, as in every other branch of her education, she has had every
advantage--Lady Frances herself being highly accomplished--and her
long residence in Italy and France having perfected and improved her
taste, in every accomplishment that can embellish or add graces to
the youth and beauty of her niece--All her musical band have been the
pupils of the first masters, and recommended to her by Santirelli,
Jomelli, Galuppi, Piccini, and Sacchini. It is not then surprising that
the works of these different masters are performed admirably well at
Munster-house; and as there is great variety in their manner, there
is that in every one of them to charm and please the most insensible.
Lady Frances is highly charmed with Jomelli; while the fancy, fire,
and feeling of Galuppi, and Piccini's comic style, are infinitely
more attracting to Lady Eliza, than the taste, learning, great and
noble ideas of Jomelli, or the serious style of Sacchini.--One of
the Bezzodzi's, from Turin who excels on the hautboy, is also at
Munster-house.
There is also a set of very excellent actors, who perform at the
Tribuna, judging the representation of dramatic works of genius
contribute as much to soften manners, as the exhibition of the
Gladiators formerly did to harden them. When we complain of the
_licentiousness_ of the stage, I fear we have more reason to complain of
_bad measures_ in our policy, and a general decay of _virtue_ and _good
morals_ among us.
Moliere's comedies are said to have done more service to the courtiers,
than the sermons of Bourdalone and Massillon. The great Saint
Chrysostom, a name consecrated to immortality by his virtue, is thought
to owe a great part of his eloquence and vehemence in correcting vice,
to his constantly reading Aristophanes; nor was he even censured on that
account, in those times of pure zeal, and primitive religion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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