Susannah Maria Cibber (née Arne) by Thomas Hudson

''Rosamond'' is an opera by

Thomas Arne Thomas Augustine Arne (; 12 March 17105 March 1778) was an English composer. He is best known for his patriotic song "Rule, Britannia!" and the song " A-Hunting We Will Go", the latter composed for a 1777 production of ''The Beggar's Opera'', whi ...

with a libretto by

Joseph Addison Joseph Addison (1 May 1672 – 17 June 1719) was an English essayist, poet, playwright and politician. He was the eldest son of The Reverend Lancelot Addison. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend Richard ...

. It was first performed at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London on 1 March 1733.

Background

''Rosamond'' was the twenty-three year old Arne’s first opera - indeed his first known composition. It was a re-setting of the libretto Addison had written for the 1707 opera '' Rosamond'' by Clayton and it made Arne’s reputation as a composer. He taught his sister Susannah and his brother to sing, and they both made their debuts with this work, his sister playing the title role.

Performance history

The 1733 cast was:

Jane Barbier Jane Barbier (will proved 9 December 1757) was an English contralto of the 18th century, best known for her performances in the operas of George Frideric Handel. She first performed in 1711 in the revival of the opera Almahide. She created the ro ...

(King),

Richard Leveridge Richard Leveridge (or Leueridge) (19 July 1670 – 22 March 1758) was an English bass singer of the London stage and a composer of baroque music, including many popular songs. Life Richard Leveridge was born in the parish of St Martin-in-the-Fiel ...

(Sir Trusty),

Richard Arne Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stro ...

(page), Miss Jones (Queen), Susannah Arne (Rosamond), and Isabella Chambers (Grideline). The beauty of Arne’s setting and of Susannah’s voice made the opera a success, and it had a run of seven nights. It did not however make money and the vocal score was not published. Its popular airs “Rise, Glory, Rise” and “Was ever nymph like Rosamond” were sung for many years afterwards. The opera was revived on 8 March 1740 at the Drury Lane Theatre with Mr. Beard as the King, Mrs Arne as Queen Elinor and

Kitty Clive Catherine Clive (née Raftor; 5 November 1711 – 6 December 1785) Catherine ‘Kitty’ Clive (1711-1785, active 1728-1769) was a first songster and star comedienne of British playhouse entertainment. Clive led and created new forms of English ...

as Rosamond.

References

{{reflist Opera in England English-language operas 1733 operas Operas