London, Paris, Dublin 1732–1762

Abstract ALTHOUGH they were composed and performed for many years before they were eventually published, the concertos of Op. II and III achieved a wide dissemination only after the series of public performances organized by Geminiani at Hickford’s Room between December 1731 and April 1732. Following their publication in 1732 they were performed everywhere in England, not only at public concerts or at meetings of music societies, but also between the acts of stage works. The last-mentioned context proves their popularity beyond question, for only music that was known to be in fashion was chosen for the entr’actes. Typical examples besides Geminiani’s concertos were the overtures of Handel’s operas, the same composer’s celebrated Water Music, and Vivaldi’s ‘Cuckoo’ Concerto (RV 335). To give some specific instances: the intervals of The Careless Husband (Haymarket, 20 October 1733) were filled by the first concerto of Geminiani’s Op. II, the Overture to Handel’s Alessandro, and the ‘Cuckoo’; for The Constant Couple (Haymarket, 27 October 1733) the same service was provided by the fourth concerto of Geminiani’s Op. III and the Overture to Tamerlano; in The Relapse (Haymarket, 1 December 1733) it was the turn of the sixth concerto of Geminiani’s Op. II, the Overture to Admeto, and a concerto for two oboes by Pepusch; Love for Love (Haymarket, 4 February 1734) featured the third concerto of Geminiani’s Op. II, the Overture to Tolomeo, and the Water Music; The Country Wife (Drury Lane, 4 February 1735) had the first concerto of Geminiani’s Op. III, the Overture to Esther, and an unidentified concerto for oboe by Geminiani. These Op. II and Op. III concertos remained in the British orchestral repertory until the death of the composer and were reprinted repeatedly up to the end of the century. It is important to bear this fact in mind, for otherwise it would be quite difficult to explain why Geminiani’s standing with the public remained high even though almost all his subsequent compositions met with failure.