. The dawn of the XIXth century in England, a social sketch of the times. ic in the English character,and when we look at the composers who thenflourished, and at the singers who expounded their works,we must own that the dawn of the century could fairly holdits own with its latter days. Dr. Arnold, Dr. Callcott(whose glees are still sung in many a home), Shield, Stevens,and Clementi, were among the composers ; and, for singers—was there not Mrs. Billington, with her extraordinarilysweet voice, her forcible expression, and flexible execution ? Gillray here has kept an excellent likeness of gwx
. The dawn of the XIXth century in England, a social sketch of the times. ic in the English character,and when we look at the composers who thenflourished, and at the singers who expounded their works,we must own that the dawn of the century could fairly holdits own with its latter days. Dr. Arnold, Dr. Callcott(whose glees are still sung in many a home), Shield, Stevens,and Clementi, were among the composers ; and, for singers—was there not Mrs. Billington, with her extraordinarilysweet voice, her forcible expression, and flexible execution ? Gillray here has kept an excellent likeness of gwx primadonna, and, probably, did not much exaggerate her pro-portions. She was paid remarkably well, as most divasare, and, if the satirical prints, and newspaper reports ofthe time, do not belie her, she was as voracious afterRefreshers as a modern Queens Counsel, or she couldnot appear. Here we see Mrs. Billington utterly prostrate, until re-vived by golden pills, of which Sheridan is bringing a goodsupply. We can see what she earned from a newspapercutting, or MRS. , AS C , SINGING A UliAVUKA (1S02). VOCALISTS. 363 Morjiing Post, June 12, 1800 : Mrs. Billington isengaged for the Kings Theatre next season, and she isto have two thousand guineas. Morning Post, July 15, 1801 : Mrs. Billington afterhnviming all the Theatres, has, at last, fixed on the hive inCovent Garden, where she will, no doubt, make much buzzand Jioncy next season. Articles were signed between herand Mr. Harris yesterday. This we can state as 2^ positive
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectgreatbr, bookyear1890
