Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

ROW OF KEYS ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC 169
end on the first note, Haydn's indication being and'Griselda.' The fourth seasoii lasted from
Menuetto D. G. wird zuriickgespielt. [See Rectb Nov. 7, 1722, to June 15, 1723, and was remarkable
for the first appearance in England
BT
^^^^^^^^^^^
RetBO.]
Mcnuttto al RovestAo,
=ti.J==Uife3-&
'
[The Repeat, as played after the Trio.}
ROW OF KEYS. A single Claviee or
Manual. The term is not applied, in the
organ, to a pedal-clavier from the simple fact
that one row of keys is all that is required by
the feet ; two rows of pedal-keys have sometimes
been constructed, but they have proved always
unnecessary and generallyunmanageable. Harpsichords
had often two rows of keys acting on
different sets of jacks, and thus allowing of
changes of force and quality of tone. J. s.
ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC, 1720-
1728. From 1717 to 1720 there was no Italian
Opera in London, but in the latter year a sum
of £50,000 was raised by subscription, and an
establishment was founded for the performance
of Italian operas. This was the first Royal
Academy of Music. It consisted of a Governor,
a Deputy-Governor, and twenty Directors. The
first governor was the Duke of Newcastle,
^the deputy -governor was Lord Bingley, and
the directors included the leaders of society
at the Court of George I. Buononoini was
invited to England from Rome, Ariosti from
Berlin, and Handel left Cannons and went to
Dresden to engage singers. Under these brilliant
auspices the Academy opened at the King's
Theatre in the Haymarket, on April 2, 1720,
with Giovanni Porta's ' Numitor, ' and the
following strong cast:—Senesino, Durastanti,
Boschi, and Berenstadt. The season ended on
June 25. It was remarkable for the production
of Handel's Radamisto ' ' and D. Scarlatti's
'Narciso,' the latter conducted by Roseingrave,
and including Mrs. Anastasia Robinson in the
cast. The second season lasted from Nov. 19,
1720, to July 5, 1721. The new works performed
were ' Astarto ' (Buononoini), Arsaoe '
(a pasticcio),
'
Muzio Scaevola ' (Ariosti,
Buononoini, and Handel), and 'Giro' (Ariosti).
During the first year of the undertaking
£15,000 of the subscription had been spent.
The third season began Nov. 1, 1721, and
ended June 16, 1722. The new operas were
Handel's 'Floridante,' Buononcini's 'Crispo'
of Cuzzoni, who sang in Handel's Ottone ' ' on
Jan. 12. The other new works (besides 'Ottone')
were Ariosti's 'Coriolano,' Buononcini's 'Erminia,'
and Handel's ' Flavio.' In the fifth
season (Nov. 27, 1723, to June 13, 1724)
Buononcini's 'Farnace,' Ariosti's ' Vespasiano,'
and a pasticcio called Aquilio,' were produced.
'
At the end of the season Mrs. Robinson retired
from the stage. The sixth season (Oct. 31,
1724, to May 19, 1725) opened with Handel's
'Tamerlane' Ariosti's 'Artaserse' and 'Dario'
(partly by Vivaldi), Handel's ' Rodelinda,' Buononcini's
'Calfurnia,' and Vinci's 'Elpidia'
were the other new works produced. - The
seventh season (November 1725 to June 1726)
ended abruptly, owing to the illness of Senesino,
but it was remarkable for the first appearance
of the celebrated Faustina Hasse, who sang in
Handel's ' Alessandro ' on May 5. Handel's
'Scipione' was also produced in March. Owing
to Senesino's absence, the operas were suspended
till Christmas, and the next season ended on
June 6, 1727. Ariosti's 'Lucio Vero,' Handel's
'AdmetOj'and Buononcini's 'Astyanax' (the last
of his operas performed at the Academy) were
the chief works ; but the season, although short,
was enlivened by the continual disturbances
caused by the rivalry between Cuzzoni and
Faustina. The ninth season lasted from Oct. 3,
1727, to June 1, 1728. The operas were entirely
under Handel's direction : his ' Siroe,'
'Tolomeo,' and 'Riocardo I' were produced, but
the success of the ' Beggar's Opera ' at Lincolu's
Inn Fields Theatre, as well as the continual
disputes and dissensions amongst the singers,
caused the season to be more than usually
disastrous. At the end of it, the whole sum
subscribed, as well as the receipts, was found
to have been entirely spent. The company
was dispersed, and although a few meetings
of the court were held during the year, the
establishment was allowed to die gradually,
and was never revived. ^ w. B. s.
1 Further information aa to the Royal Academy of Music will he