Music & Dance

Event Title

Contracts v. Cash Flow: Legal Cases of 18th Century London Opera Companies

Presenter Information

Rebekah Mackey, Butler University

Document Type

Oral Presentation

Location

Indianapolis, IN

Subject Area

Music & Dance

Start Date

11-4-2014 9:00 AM

End Date

11-4-2014 10:30 AM

Description

Opera emerged as the leading musical genre in Italy in the early 17th century and spread throughout Europe. It became the most influential and relatable art form for the next two centuries connecting audiences to the political issues and social happenings of the time. Because of the importance of opera to the social scene, it became a popular business venture for elite citizens and the business grew tremendously.

Opera companies spared no expense when hiring the best of the best to put on these shows, even if it meant going over budget, defaulting on loans, and not paying promised salaries. This practice continued and spiraled out of control due to society's desire for opera to be a grand and luxurious experience. Foreseeably this led to financial burdens, breach of contracts, and unfulfilled promises. Many of these cases ended up in the legal system to be disputed and settled.

Through examination of the 18th century legal cases of Sackville v. Monticelli, Manfredini v. Geminiani, and Galli v. De la Couronne in London, I argue that opera companies were extremely mismanaged and not profitable because of the business practices that were being used. By studying these legal cases the inner workings, motivations and repercussions the companies faced are revealed. The justice system prevailed and opera companies were forced to fulfill their contractual duties.

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Apr 11th, 9:00 AM Apr 11th, 10:30 AM

Contracts v. Cash Flow: Legal Cases of 18th Century London Opera Companies

Indianapolis, IN

Opera emerged as the leading musical genre in Italy in the early 17th century and spread throughout Europe. It became the most influential and relatable art form for the next two centuries connecting audiences to the political issues and social happenings of the time. Because of the importance of opera to the social scene, it became a popular business venture for elite citizens and the business grew tremendously.

Opera companies spared no expense when hiring the best of the best to put on these shows, even if it meant going over budget, defaulting on loans, and not paying promised salaries. This practice continued and spiraled out of control due to society's desire for opera to be a grand and luxurious experience. Foreseeably this led to financial burdens, breach of contracts, and unfulfilled promises. Many of these cases ended up in the legal system to be disputed and settled.

Through examination of the 18th century legal cases of Sackville v. Monticelli, Manfredini v. Geminiani, and Galli v. De la Couronne in London, I argue that opera companies were extremely mismanaged and not profitable because of the business practices that were being used. By studying these legal cases the inner workings, motivations and repercussions the companies faced are revealed. The justice system prevailed and opera companies were forced to fulfill their contractual duties.