1766
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1 January 1766 At the death of his father (James III), Bonnie Prince Charlie accedes to all his British claims and names himself King Charles III. Later this month he will take up residence in Rome.
3 January 1766 Prince Nicholas Esterházy orders that henceforth his country residence, Süttör, is to be known as Esterháza.
4 January 1766 Franz Joseph Haydn (33) presents three new baryton trios to his employer, Prince Nicholas Esterházy.
5 January 1766 Muzio Clementi (13) is hired as an organist in his home parish of San Lorenzo in Damaso, Rome.
6 January 1766 The second version of Enea nel Lazio, an opera seria by Niccolò Jommelli (51) to words of Verazi, is performed for the first time, in the Ducal Theatre, Ludwigsburg.
8 January 1766 A British expedition of three ships lead by Captain John MacBride, RN establishes a permanent British settlement at Port Egmont, Falkland Islands.
9 January 1766 La pescatrice, ovvero L’erede riconosciuta, an intermezzo by Niccolò Piccinni (37), is performed for the first time, in Teatro Capranica, Rome.
14 January 1766 Frederik V, King of Denmark, Count of Oldenburg, dies in Copenhagen and is succeeded by his son, Christian VII.
17 January 1766 A committee of London merchants appeals to Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act. It seems that the American protest is ruining business.
The Mozart family performs at The Hague, including some symphonies by Wolfgang (9).
18 January 1766 Le garde-chasse et le braconnier, an opéra comique by Johann Schobert (31), is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre-Italien, Paris.
22 January 1766 Symphony K.22 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (10) is probably performed for the first time, in a concert by the Mozart family at The Hague.
27 January 1766 Niccolò Piccinni’s (38) intermezzo La baronessa di Montecupo is performed for the first time, in Teatro Capranica, Rome.
29 January 1766 Wolfgang Amadeus (10) and his sister Nannerl give a public all-Mozart concert in the Salle du Manège, Amsterdam.
11 February 1766 Niccolò Jommelli’s (51) opera seria Vologeso to words of Verazi is performed for the first time, in the Ducal Theatre, Ludwigsburg, to celebrate the birthday of Duke Carl Eugen.
15 February 1766 Samuel Johnson suggests that Jean-Jacques Rousseau be indentured to work on the plantations.
22 February 1766 The British Parliament votes to repeal the Stamp Act.
23 February 1766 On the death of its ruler, Stanislaus Lesczcynski, Lorraine is incorporated into France.
24 February 1766 Samuel Wesley is born in Bristol, the son of Charles Wesley, Methodist minister, poet and composer, and Sarah Gwynne, daughter of a wealthy landowner. He is one of eight children, but the youngest of only three to survive infancy.
26 February 1766 The Mozart family performs publicly for a second time in the Salle du Manège, Amsterdam. The authorities suspend the prohibition of entertainments during Lent. “To propagate miraculous gifts serves to praise God.” (Gutman, 208)
3 March 1766 King Louis XV of France holds the Séance de la Flagellation. He upholds absolutism and denies that the parlements represent anybody.
Gregor Werner, the Esterházy kapellmeister dies, and is succeeded by the vice-kapellmeister, Joseph Haydn (33). Apparently it is a foregone conclusion, as no record of the appointment survives.
4 March 1766 Erscheine, Gott der Ehre, a cantata by Georg Philipp Telemann (84) is performed for the first time, for the consecration of G.L. Herrnschmid as pastor of St. Michael’s, Hamburg.
7 March 1766 The publication of two sets of variations for keyboard by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (10) is announced in The Hague: Eight Variations on a Dutch Song K.24 and Seven Variations on Willem van Nassau K.25.
11 March 1766 The Mozart family are present for the installation of Willem V at The Hague. For this occasion, Wolfgang (10) composed the Gallimathias musicum K.32 and Seven Variations on Willem van Nassau K.25.
13 March 1766 Padre Antonio Soler (36) signs Carta escrita a un amigo. It is a second pamphlet rebutting criticisms of his treatise Llave de la modulación.
18 March 1766 The repeal of the Stamp Act receives royal assent. It will take effect on 1 May. At the same time, the Declaratory Act is approved by Parliament, iterating the complete control of the King and Parliament over the North American colonies.
27 March 1766 Oliver Goldsmith’s novel The Vicar of Wakefield is published.
31 March 1766 The Kärntnertortheater, Vienna, reopens after the mourning period following the death of Emperor Franz.
7 April 1766 The Prater Park in Vienna is opened to the public by Emperor Joseph II.
10 April 1766 Étienne François, duc de Choiseul replaces César Gabriel de Choiseul-Chevigny, duc de Praslin as Chief Minister of France.
Rebekka als Braut, a singpiel by Michael Haydn (28) to words after Reichssiegel, is performed for the first time, in Salzburg.
15 April 1766 Aline, reine de Golconde, a ballet héroïque by Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny (36) to a scenario by Sedaine after Boufflers, is performed for the first time, at the Paris Opéra. This marks the first time that an opéra-comique composer has written for the Opéra.
16 April 1766 Publication of six sonatas for keyboard and violin K.26-31 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (10) is announced in The Hague.
The Mozart family performs in Amsterdam for a third time, in the Salle du Manège.
17 April 1766 Publication of music by Johann Christian Bach (30) is announced in the Public Advertiser, London: Six sonates pour le clavecin ou le pianoforte...op.V. This is the first publication in Britain to contain the option of piano.
18 April 1766 The Mozart family travels from Amsterdam to Utrecht. Before leaving, a merchant named Kuhlman gives them a copy of Sei sonate per il Cembalo solo by Georg Benda (43).
21 April 1766 The Mozart family performs at the Vreeburg in Utrecht.
22 April 1766 The King Shall Rejoice, an anthem by William Boyce (54), is performed for the first time. This is the second anthem of that name by Boyce.
23 April 1766 Les pêcheurs, an opéra comique by François-Joseph Gossec (32) to words of La Salle d’Offémont, is performed for the first time, at the Comédie-Italienne, Paris.
25 April 1766 Miss in Her Teens, a farce by Thomas Augustine Arne (56) to words of Garrick after Dancourt, is performed for the first time, in Drury Lane Theatre, London.
30 April 1766 The Mozart family performs once again in Antwerp.
2 May 1766 Since his appointment as Esterházy kapellmeister affords him a little more security, Joseph Haydn (34) buys a little house in Eisenstadt.
4 May 1766 Gottes Wort und Luthers Lehr, a cantata by Georg Philipp Telemann (85), is performed for the first time, for the installation of Georg Ludwig Herrnschmid as priest in St. Michael’s, Hamburg.
6 May 1766 Thomas-Arthur, comte de Lally is beheaded in Paris for his part in the loss of Pondicherry to the British during the Seven Years War.
8 May 1766 The Mozart family arrives in Brussels from Antwerp.
10 May 1766 The Mozart family arrives in Paris from the Netherlands.
25 May 1766 Il viaggiatore ridicolo, a dramma giocoso by Florian Leopold Gassmann (37) to words of Goldoni, is performed for the first time, in the Kärntnertortheater, Vienna.
28 May 1766 The Mozart family moves from Paris to Versailles.
Die verwandelten Weiber, oder Der Teufel ist los, erster Teil, a comische Oper by Johann Adam Hiller (37) to words of Weisse after Coffey, is performed for the first time, in Quandt’s Court, Leipzig. It is immediately successful.
29 May 1766 Henry Cavendish gives the first of three papers before the Royal Society in London. He describes experiments where metals, in contact with acid, produce a kind of “Inflammable Air.” This we now call hydrogen.
1 June 1766 The Mozart family moves from Versailles back to Paris.
4 June 1766 Hail to the Man, an ode by William Boyce (54) to words of Whitehead, is performed for the first time, to honor the birthday of King George III.
12 June 1766 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (10) dates his Kyrie K.33.
15 June 1766 Florian Leopold Gassmann (37) arrives in Vienna from Venice with a young Italian protégé who is to further his education in the city: Antonio Salieri (15).
28 June 1766 Baldassare Galuppi’s (59) componimento drammatico La pace tra la Virtù e la Bellezza to words of Metastasio, is performed for the first time, at the Russian court in St. Petersburg.
1 July 1766 This is the approximate date that Florian Leopold Gassmann (37) introduces Antonio Salieri (15) to Emperor Joseph II in Vienna.
9 July 1766 The Mozart family departs Paris for Dijon.
12 July 1766 The Mozart family arrives in Dijon from Paris for a stay of two weeks.
18 July 1766 The Mozart family performs at the Hôtel de Ville, Dijon.
25 July 1766 Ottawa leader Pontiac concludes a formal peace treaty with the British at Fort Ontario, thus officially ending Pontiac’s War begun in 1763.
26 July 1766 The Mozart family arrives in Lyons from Dijon.
Before a large gathering in Burslem, Staffordshire, Josiah Wedgwood turns the first earth in the building of the Grand Trunk Canal.
La cantarina, an intermezzo by Joseph Haydn (34), is probably performed for the first time, in Eisenstadt.
30 July 1766 William Pitt, Earl of Chatham replaces Charles Watson-Wentworth, Marquess of Rockingham as Prime Minister of Great Britain.
13 August 1766 The Mozart family gives a concert in Lyon.
20 August 1766 The Mozart family arrives in Geneva from Lyon.
8 September 1766 Before a large audience in Paris, the famous fencer Giuseppe Gianfaldoni defeats Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint Georges (20), although the master is impressed by the way the young man acquits himself.
14 September 1766 The Mozart family arrives in Lausanne on probably this date.
15 September 1766 The Mozart family gives a concert in Lausanne.
18 September 1766 The Mozart family gives a second concert in Lausanne.
28 September 1766 The Mozart family arrives in Zürich from Bern.
4 October 1766 La cameriera spiritosa, a dramma giocoso by Baldassare Galuppi (59) to words of Goldoni, is performed for the first time, in the Regio Ducal, Milan.
7 October 1766 The Mozart family performs in Zürich.
9 October 1766 The Mozart family performs a second time in Zürich.
10 October 1766 Heinrich Gottfried Koch opens the new Theater am Rannstädter Thore in Leipzig. It will become the center of German opera in the late 18th century.
Prince Stanislaw Lubomirski replaces Franciszek Bielinski as Grand Marshal of Poland.
12 October 1766 On approximately this date, the Mozart family departs Zürich for Donaueschingen.
17 October 1766 The Mozart family reaches Donaueschingen and begins daily concerts at the court of Joseph Wenzel, Fürst von Fürstenberg.
18 October 1766 Joseph Haydn (34) receives one of his first notices in an Austrian paper, the Wiener Biarium, in which he is described as “the darling of our nation.”
28 October 1766 The Mozart family gives the last of twelve daily concerts at the court of Joseph Wenzel, Fürst von Fürstenberg in Donaueschingen.
29 October 1766 Il buon marito, an intermezzo by Georg Benda (44) to words of Galletti, is performed for the first time, in Gotha.
4 November 1766 The Mozart family reaches Dillingen from Donaueschingen.
Il matrimonio per concorso, an opera buffa by Niccolò Jommelli (52) to words of Martinelli, is performed for the first time, in the Ducal Palace, Ludwigsburg.
Il gran Cid, an opera seria by Niccolò Piccinni (38) to words of Pizzi, is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Carlo, Naples.
5 November 1766 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (12) performs before Joseph, Landgrave of Hesse, in Dillingen.
6 November 1766 The Mozart family arrives in Augsburg.
8 November 1766 The Mozart family arrives in Munich from Augsburg.
9 November 1766 The Mozart family performs in Munich before Elector Maximilian III.
10 November 1766 Queen’s College is chartered in New Brunswick, by Governor William Franklin of New Jersey. The name will be changed to Rutgers in 1825.
11 November 1766 The Burgtheater, Vienna, reopens after the mourning period following the death of Emperor Franz. The first production is Gassmann’s (37) Il viaggiatore ridicolo. See 25 May 1766.
12 November 1766 A treaty with Nizam Ali of Hyderabad cedes the Northern Cicars and Madras to Great Britain.
13 November 1766 Wie lieblich sind auf den Bergen, a cantata by Georg Philipp Telemann (85) for the installation of Johann Heinrich Daniel Moldenhaur as priest in Hamburg Cathedral, is performed for the first time, in a Hamburg concert hall. The actual performance was postponed until today because of the death of Emperor Franz I.
15 November 1766 Francesco Maria Veracini (76) appears as a violin soloist for the last time, at the grand-ducal court in Florence.
22 November 1766 The Mozart family performs before the Bavarian court in Munich for a second time.
25 November 1766 Lisuart und Dariolette, oder Die Frage und die Antwort, a romantisch-comische Oper by Johann Adam Hiller (37) to words of Schiebeler after Favart, is performed for the first time, in Theater am Rannstädter Thore, Leipzig.
27 November 1766 Publication of three works by Giovanni Battista Sammartini (65) is announced in the Public Advertiser, London: Symphony J.C.21 and two violin concertos J.C. 70 and 78.
29 November 1766 The Mozart family, including Leopold (47) and Wolfgang (10), return to Salzburg after an absence of three years, five months and 20 days.
5 December 1766 The London auction house Christie’s holds its first sale.
6 December 1766 Joseph Haydn (34) sends six baryton trios “divertimentos” to his employer, Prince Esterházy. They are the last of a set of 24.
21 December 1766 Or che il dover...Tali e cotanti sono, a concert aria for tenor and orchestra K.36 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (10), is performed for the first time, in Salzburg for the anniversary of the consecration of Archbishop Sigismund.
Joseph Priestley conducts an experiment suggested by Benjamin Franklin wherein electricity is measured inside an electrified metal cup. He infers that the attraction of electricity is subject to the same laws as that of gravity.
25 December 1766 Empress Yekaterina II calls for the election of a legislative commission representing various conditions of Russian society to codify the laws.
©Paul Scharfenberger 2004-2012
2 July 2012
Last Updated (Monday, 02 July 2012 05:46)