Charles Burney

The Present State of Music in France and Italy (2nd, corrected edition)

London: T. Becket and Co., 1773

Naples

clearness, and, if it may be so called, a
transparency, which is wonderful. The
singing, as I before observed, is wretch-
ed; but there is so much vis comica in
Casaccia, that his singing is never
thought of; yet, for want of dancing,
the acts are necessarily so long, that it is
wholly impossible to keep up the at-
tention; so that those who are not talk-
ing, or playing at cards, usually fall
asleep.

Indeed, music at the theatres, and
other public places in Italy seems but an
excuse for people to assemble together,
their attention being chiefly placed on
play and conversation, even during the
performance of a serious opera.

Thursday 25. after dinner I went once
more to hear the boys of St. Onofrio, at
the Franciscans church. They perform-
ed a Litany, that was composed by
Durante*; the rest of the music, which