11 July 1825

Giovanni Battista Placci’s Benefit Concert

London: New Argyll Rooms—Time: Evening

Tickets: 10s. 6d., Boxes available

↓Programme

From L’ Italiana in Algeri Duet, ‘Ai capricci della sorte’	Signora Garcia, Signor Garcia	Rossini
Cavatina adapted in English	Miss George	Rossini
Concertante Variation on a French Air for Piano and Violin	Messrs. Moscheles, Kiesewetter
From Il barbiere di Siviglia: Sestet, ‘Don Basilio’		Rossini
Harp Solo	Mr. Bochsa
From L’ Italiana in Algeri: Trio, ‘Pappataci’	Mr. Begrez, Signors de Begnis, Remorini	Rossini
Piano Solo	Mr. Moscheles
From The Merchant of Venice ‘Tell me where is fancy bred?’	Miss E. Paton, Miss Paton
Violin Solo	Mr. Kiesewetter
Violin Solo	Mr. Mori

Principal Vocalists: Miss Cawse, Miss E. Paton, Miss George, Miss Goodall, Miss Paton, Mme Castelli, Signora Garcia; Messrs. Begrez, Signors Curioni, de Begnis, Garcia, Remorini, Torri

Principal Instrumentalists: Messrs. Bochsa, Kiesewetter, Mori, Moscheles, Spagnoletti

Leader: Signor Paolo Spagnoletti; Conductor: Signor Coccia

———————————

Encore: Trio, ‘Pappataci’—Mr. Begrez, Signors de Begnis, Remorini

The Morning Chronicle (June 17, 1825): 3.

Signor PLACCI, of King’s Theatre, is at this moment in a private mad-house, under a strong affection of mental derangement, which wholly incapacitates him from attending to his professional duties; and what renders his case still more distressing is, that his affairs are by no means in a prosperous state, his friends, Signor de BEGNIS, is making every exertion to get up a Concert for his Benefit, and to table him to return to Italy.—Morning Paper.

The Morning Chronicle (July 8, 1825): 1.

ARGYLL-ROOMS.—Signor DE BEGNIS respectfully begs to leave to inform the Nobility, Gentry, and the Public, that, aided by most of the Artists belonging to the King’s Theatre, and others, a GRAND VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT will be given on Monday next, at the above Rooms, for the BENEFIT of Signor PLACCI, who labours under temporary derangement in a private Madhouse. Further particulars, with the Programme of the Concert, will shortly be announced.—Tickets, Half-a-Guinea each, to be had at Signor De Begnis’s, 39, Berner’s-street; Messrs. Chappell’s Music Warehouse, New Bond-street; Messrs. Boosey’s, Holles-street: Cavendish-square; Mr. Sams’s Library, Corner of St. James’s-street: at the Royal Harmonic Institution, Argyll-rooms: at Mr. Ebers’s, 27, Old Bond-street and at Messrs. Clementi and Co.’s. Cheapside.—Parties wishing to secure Boxes, are requested to signify their intentions to Signor De Begnis, 39, Berner’s-street ; or to Mr. Seguin, 27, Old Bond-street.

The Morning Chronicle (July 9, 1825): 1.

[Same as issued in The Morning Chronicle on July 8, until ‘to Signor De Begnis, 39, Berner’s-street’]

The Morning Chronicle (July 11, 1825): 2.

ARGYLL ROOMS.—a GRAND CONCERT for the BENEFIT of Signor PLACCI, deprived of Reason, and in a Private Madhouse, will take place THIS EVENING.—Vocal Performers, Miss Paton, Madame Castelli, Miss Goodall, and Madame Caradori; Madlle. Garcia, Madame Cornega, Misses Cawse, and Madame Vestris. Signor Velluti, Sig. Garcia, Sig. Curioni, M. Begrez, and Sig. Torri, Sig. Remorini, Mr. Phillips, and Sig. De Begnis. Solo Performers. Pianoforte, M. Moscheles; Harp, M. Bochsa; Violin, M. Kieswetter and M. Mori; Leader of the Band, M. Spagnoletti; Conductor, Sig. Coccia.—The Orchestra will consist of the most eminent Performers.—The Concert will commence at Eight o’clock.

Tickets, half a-guinea each, to be had at Sig. De Begnis’s, 39, Berners.-street; Mr. Birchall’s, New Bond-street; Messrs. Chappell’s Music Warehouse, New Bond-street; Messrs. Boosey’s, Holles-street: Cavendish-square; Mr. Sams’s Library, corner of St. James’s-street: at the Argyll Rooms: at Mr. Ebers’s, 27, Old Bond-street and at Messrs. Clementi and Co.’s, Cheapside.—Parties wishing to secure Boxes, are requested to signify their intentions to Sig. De Begnis, 39, Berners-street ; or to Mr. Seguin, 27, Old Bond-street.

The Morning Post (July 11, 1825): 2.

A Concert, on a most magnificent scale, takes place this evening at the Argyll Rooms, for the Benefit of poor PLACCI, once a deserved favourite at the Opera House, and now suffering the horrors of mental derangement in a private mad house, far from his wife and children. Never was there a more powerful appeal to the feelings of the benevolent and humane, than the case of this unfortunate Foreigner; the Performers of the King’s Theatre, with its powerful Band, aided by all the other musical talent of the metropolis, vocal and instrumental, most cheerfully come forward to assist poor PLACCI; and we sincerely hope that a full attendance of the public at the Argyll Rooms to-night, will repay their laudable exertions. To Signor DE BEGNIS, most particularly, every praise is due: he has been the promoter of the Concert, and with all the warmth and alacrity of friendship, has used every effort in his power to alleviate the sorrows of his ill-fated countryman.

Reviews

The Courier (July 12, 1825): 3.

ARGYLL ROOMS.

Last night the Concert for the benefit of the unfortunate Placci, took place at the Argyll Rooms; but, in consequence of Mrs. Coutts having suddenly resolved to give a party on the same evening, and having engaged most of the leading performers, who had promised their assistance on this occasion, the whole of the arrangements were necessarily altered. This is the more to be regretted, as a very full attendance of the fashionable world might otherwise have been expected. Velluti sent an excuse alleging he was indisposed. Notwithstanding all these disadvantages, however, a great treat was afforded, by the exertions of those professors who humanely gave their services on this occasion. A duet on the violin and piano-forte, by Kiesewetter and Moscheles, was rapturously applauded. The splendid sestetto, Don Basilio, by Rossini, from the Barber of Seville, and a caratina, by the same composer, adapted to English words, and sung by Miss George with a power, sweetness, and brilliancy which delighted every one, were among the most effective vocal performance of the evening. This content was given for the purpose of raising a fund to send poor Placci, who is labouring under insanity, home to his family in Italy, and we sincerely hope it answered the benevolent design of those who set it on foot.

The Globe and Traveller (July 12, 1825): 3.

Yesterday evening concert was given at the Argyle Rooms benefit of Signor Placci, at present in a state of derangement, in order enable his friends to convey him back to his native country. The public were led to expect Mesdames Caradori and Vestris, along with Velluti; but neither were there. Miss E Paton sung the duet, “Tell me where is fancy bred?” with her sister, whom she bids fair to rival. M. and Mademoiselle Garcia, Madame Castelli, Miss Goodall, Torri, Remorini, Curioni, and Begrez contributed their share to the amusement of the evening. We cannot help mentioning the deserved applause which Messrs. Begrez, De Begnis, and Remorini received in the trio “Pappataci.” There was no lack of instrumental performers to second the charitable efforts of the vocalists: we need only mention the names of Spagnoletti, Moscheles, Kiesewetter, and Mori, as evidence of the delights of the evening.—Upon the whole, the concert was received with applause, by, we are glad say, a numerous and fashionable audience, who have thus contributed to relieve misery in the most awful shape with which it can afflict man. Signor Placci has, we believe, large family.

The Morning Post (July 12, 1825): 3.

ARGYLL ROOMS.

A highly respectable, though we regret to say, mot a very numerous audience, attended last night the Concert for the benefit of the unfortunate PLACCI. Several of the Pieces originally intended to be given were unavoidably omitted l but what still remained were of an excellent kind, and were given with a degree of skill and energy that did honour to the charitable disposition of the Performers present. The beautiful Duet, Di Capricci, by Madlle. GARCIA and her father, displayed all that is brilliant in execution and playful in action. Concertante variations, by MOSCHELES and KIESEWETTER, on a French air, also obtained just and universal admiration.—ROSSINI’S Terzetto of Papalaci, by BEGREZ, de BEGNIS, and REMORINI was rapturously encored, and the whole went off with great applause.

John Bull (July 17, 1825): 228-229.

M. PLACCI’S CONCERT.—We regret to find that the Concert so handsomely undertaken for the relief of this unfortunate individual has not proved so productive as expected, or as his necessitous condition demanded. This falling off is attributed to to [sic] the circumstance of Mrs. COUTTS giving a grand party on the night appointed for the Concert, at her residence in Piccadilly. The lady, not only invited all the fashionables in town, but also ISSUED HER COMMANDS for the attendance of all the principal performers for the entertainment of her guest. The consequence of this general sweep was, that the Concert, the profits of which was intended to administer to the wants and comfort of the afflicted Placci, was bereft both of singers and company; and the result, such as we have already stated, viz. a total failure in the pecuniary proceeds for the undertaking.”

All that we add is, that it was long after the great lady knew of the concert, that she was graciously pleased to make up her party, and command the attendance of those who had combined to afford, if possible, some relief to a public servant labouring under the most dreadful of all diseases. We are inclined to believe that when MRS. COUTTS comes to consider the circumstance of the case, she will be pleased to order the keeper of her privy purse to issue two or three hundred pounds to the sufferer—If charity does not prompt such an act, perhaps vanity will; and so as poor PLACCI is made as comfortable as his wretched circumstances will allow, we confess our indifference as to the great lady’s inducements.

The Bristol Mercury (July 18, 1825): 1.

[Same as review by The Morning Post on July 12]

The Harmonicon, vol. III (September 1825): 165.

On the 11th of July, a concert was performed at the Argyll Rooms, for the benefit of Signor PLACCI, well known at the Italian Opera as a very useful artist, who had been, for many months, suffering under one of the heaviest afflictions of Providence. The list of vocal and instrumental talent was exceedingly strong, and a tolerably good bill of fare was made out; but the undertaking was ill managed, and we fear that the result was not by any means so beneficial as it might have proved.