ABSTRACT
With rare exceptions, English opera has always been focused in London. The United Kingdom has never boasted the number of opera houses found in Italy or Germany. In the nineteenth century there was a closer parallel with the French concentration on Paris, but there were fundamental differences due to the repertories of the major opera houses in the two capitals and the State’s financial support in France. The main venues for opera in English, whether original works or translations, were Drury Lane and Co vent Garden. In the nineteenth century their seasons, though variable, usually lasted from early autumn to the following summer–from September to July, for instance. The audiences at both theatres were largely middle-class, with poorer aficionados in the galleries, many of whom entered after the beginning of the evening’s performance, when admission prices were reduced. The general demeanour of the audience reflected the tone of society at large.
