A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Covent Garden Theatre
COVENT GARDEN THEATRE, opened Dec. 7, 1732, under the management of Rich, who moved there with all his company from the theatre he had previously directed in Lincoln's Inn; burned on the night of Sept. 19, 1808; new theatre opened Sept. 18, 1809; converted into an opera-house 1847; burnt down 1856; reconstructed and opened again as an opera-house 1858. Though licensed for the performance of the higher class of dramatic works, to which the name of 'legitimate' is given, Covent Garden Theatre has been the scene of all kinds of theatrical representations; and two years after the first opening of the theatre, in 1734, we find the bill for March 11 announcing 'a comedy called The Way of the World, by the late Mr. Congreve, with entertainments of dancing, particularly the Scottish dance, by Mr. Glover and Mrs. Laguerre, Mr. Le Sac and Miss Boston, Mr. de la Garde and Mrs. Ogden; with a new dance called Pigmalion, performed by Mr. Malter and Mlle. Sallé.' 'No servants,' it is stated, in a notification at the end of the programme,' will be permitted to keep places on the stage.' Mlle. Sallé is said on this occasion to have produced the first complete ballet d'action ever represented on the stage. She at the same time introduced important reforms in theatrical costume. [See Ballet.] The chief composer of eminence connected with the theatre was Sir Henry Bishop, who between 1810 and 1824 produced at Covent Garden no less than fifty musical works of various kinds, including 'Guy Mannering,' 'The Miller and his Men,' 'The Slave,' and 'Clari,' besides adaptations of Rossini's 'Barber of Seville,' Mozart's 'Marriage of Figaro,' and other celebrated operas. 'Der Freischütz,' soon after its production in Germany, was brought out in an English version both at Covent Garden and at Drury Lane (1824). So great was its success that Weber was requested to compose for Covent Garden an entirely new opera. 'Oberon,' the work in question, was brought out in 1826 (April 12), when, though much admired, it failed to achieve such popularity as 'Der Freischütz' had obtained. It has been said that Weber was much affected by the coolness with which 'Oberon' was received. An excellent French critic, the late M. Scudo, writing on this subject in the 'Revue des Deux Mondes,' records the fact that 'Oberon' was very successful on its first production at Covent Garden, and adds that it was 'received with enthusiasm by those who were able to comprehend it.' An English musical journal, the 'Harmonicon,' published a remarkable article on 'Oberon,' in which, says M. Scudo, 'all the beauties of the score were brought out with great taste. It is impossible,' he continues, 'to quote an instance of a great man in literature or in the arts whose merit was entirely overlooked by his contemporaries. As for the death of Weber it may be explained by fatigue, by grief without doubt, but, above all, by an organic disease from which he had suffered for years.' Nevertheless the enthusiasm exhibited by the public at the first performance of 'Oberon' was not maintained at the following representations. The masterpiece of the German composer experienced much the same fate as 'Guillaume Tell' in Paris. In a letter to his wife, written on the very first night of performance, Weber says, 'My dear Lina, Thanks to God and to his all powerful will I obtained this evening the greatest success of my life. The emotion produced by such a triumph is more than I can describe. To God alone belongs the glory. When I entered the orchestra, the house, crammed to the roof, burst into a frenzy of applause. Hats and handkerchiefs were waved in the air. The overture had to be executed twice, as had also several pieces in the opera itself. At the end of the representation I was called on to the stage by the enthusiastic acclamations of the public; an honour which no composer had ever before obtained in England. All went excellently, and every one around me was happy.'
Between 1826 and 46 operas and musical dramas were from time to time played at Covent Garden. But it was not until 46 that the theatre was turned permanently into an opera-house; when, with the interior reconstructed by Mr. Albano, it was opened, in the words of the prospectus, 'for a more perfect representation of the lyric drama than has yet been attained in this country.' The director was Mr. Frederick Beale (of the firm of Cramer, Beale, & Co.), with whom was associated Signor Persiani, husband of the eminent prima donna of that name, and others. The musical conductor was Signor, now Sir Michael, Costa. In the company were included Madame Grisi and Signor Mario, who with Signor Costa and nearly all the members of his orchestra had suddenly left Her Majesty's Theatre for the new enterprise, in which they were joined by Mme. Persiani, Signor Tamburini, Signor Ronconi, and Mlle. Alboni, who, on the opening night—April 6, 47—sang (as Arsace in 'Semiramide') for the first time on this side of the Alps. The management of the Royal Italian Opera, as the new musical theatre was called, passed after a short time into the hands of Mr. Delafield, who was aided by Mr. Gye; and since Mr. Delafield's bankruptcy the establishment has been carried on solely by Mr. Gye (1851), who, when the theatre was burned down in 1856, rebuilt it at his own expense from the design of Mr. Edward Barry, R.A. The celebrated prima donna, Adelina Patti, made her début at the Royal Italian Opera in 1862 [App. p.601 "1861"], when she sang for the first time on the boards of a European theatre. Mlle. Lucca and Mlle. Albani, Signori Tamberlik and Graziani, may be mentioned among other artists of European fame who have appeared at the Royal Italian Opera. For some dozen years (between 1840 and 1855) M. Jullien directed promenade concerts at this theatre; and from time to time, during the winter months, performances of English opera have been given at Covent Garden. Thus Balfe's 'Rose of Castille,' 'Satanella,' and 'Armourer of Nantes,' Wallace's 'Lurline,' and Benedict's 'Lily of Killarney,' were produced here under the management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. William Harrison.