. Old and new London : a narrative of its history, its people, and its places. ession) forthe exclusive production in. perpetuity of Italianopera; the same document containing a stipula-tion that the patents of Drury Lane and CoventGarden should never be used for the purpose of tells us in his Reminiscences, that he was undera government which discouraged monopolies ofall kinds ; and, his opposition notwithstanding, theRoyal Italian Opera House, Covent Garden, wasduly opened, without let or hindrance. The Ei-a of June 13th, 1847, remarks:—Ithas been said that London cannot support twooperatic


. Old and new London : a narrative of its history, its people, and its places. ession) forthe exclusive production in. perpetuity of Italianopera; the same document containing a stipula-tion that the patents of Drury Lane and CoventGarden should never be used for the purpose of tells us in his Reminiscences, that he was undera government which discouraged monopolies ofall kinds ; and, his opposition notwithstanding, theRoyal Italian Opera House, Covent Garden, wasduly opened, without let or hindrance. The Ei-a of June 13th, 1847, remarks:—Ithas been said that London cannot support twooperatic companies; but while the house at theHaymarket was filled to overflowing by the presenceof Jenny Lind, that at Covent Garden was crammedto suffocation by Grisi. Yet, although Grisi, solong the popular idol, still held her own, in spite ofthe Jenny Lind mania, and, supported by Alboni—who made a triumphant debut during this year—insured a full house every night, the expenses werefrightfully in excess of the receipts. Two years Covert Gara. 11 Theatre. THE RIVAL 236 OLD AND NEW LONDON. [Covent Garden Theatre. sufficed to involve Mr. Delafield, the lessee, inbankruptcy, although he had commenced his specu-lation with ^100,000. The reconstruction of theinterior, by Albano, had cost ^^40,000; the vocaldepartment, in 184S, cost ^33j349» of whichAlboni drew ^^4,000, and Grisi ^^3,106. Theorchestra cost ^10,048; the ballet, ^8,105; gasand gasmen, ^1,927; properties, ^^1,920; car-penters work, ^^1,858; advertisements, ^2,376;Avardrobes, ^3,100 ; printing, ^982 ; bills of per-formance, ^885; hairdressers, ^100; salaries ofofficials, ^2,118; law expenses, ;i(;2,ioo; andfireworks, ^^27 ! The whole expenditure in 1848was ;^78,765 j the aggregate receipts, includingcloak-room, saloon, &c., ;^44,ooS. A curious contrast to this lavish outlay is to befound in the modest charges of a play acted in theyear 1511, on the Feast of St. Margaret, of whichthe expenses were as follow :


Size: 1328px × 1881px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublisherlondoncassellpette