Rauzzini and the Upper Assembly Rooms Subscription Concert series: The First Five Years

In 1780, castrato singer, Venanzio Rauzzini (1746–1810) become the sole musical director of the Upper Assembly Rooms subscription concerts series, a position he would remain in until his death in 1810. Though the series was already well established, having been under the direction of Thomas Linley the elder, and then co-directed by Rauzzini and Flemish violinist, Franz La Motte, when the castrato took over as sole director, he instigated several, small but significant changes that impacted the series overall. Such changes were not always welcomed by Bath audiences, and ultimately threatened the financial stability of the series. It was only once Rauzzini experimented with the format, programming, pricing, and weaving his students into the concert series as leading performers, identifying what audiences were willing to support that he hit his stride as musical director. As such, this chapter provides a detailed examination of the first five years of Rauzzini’s tenure as musical director, noting the changes he implemented, and what ultimately led him to secure the longevity of the series.