A friend came across the following review in the course of some researches,
and I hope group members may find it as amusing - and instructive!  -
as I did.

   The Times, Monday April 13th 1835
   King's Theatre.

   "La Gazza Ladra" was repeated on Saturday evening, when the Queen
   honoured the performance with her presence, attended by a numerous
   suite ... There are but two drawbacks upon the performance. The
   first is the wretched acting of Ivanoff, who, in spite of all
   Grisi's attempts to infuse something like animation into him,
   stood as stiff and looked as uncomfortable as though he had not
   only stolen but swallowed the spoons which the magpie purloins.

   The second drawback upon this attractive representation is the
   ridiculous conduct of Signor Costa in the orchestra.  In his
   capacity of "Conductor," Signor Costa no longer sits at the
   pianoforte, but holds a long roll of paper, with which he seems
   to think he ought to make himself as conspicuous as he can in
   marking time.  Signor Costa may be assured that, as most of the
   members of the orchestra were already eminent in the profession
   before he was born, they can very well manage to get through
   their part in the "Gazza Ladra" and other operas, as they have
   done for years past, without any interference whatever of his.
   We are surprised that the leader suffers such an encroachment
   on his attributes to continue.

   He should do as Mr. Cramer, sen., first at the first commemoration
   of Handel at Westminster Abbey. Mr. Cramer was on that occasion
   to lead the band, consisting of 500 musicians. When about to
   give the signal for commencing, Mr. Cramer perceived that some
   one who was a doctor of laws or music had come from Oxford to
   take upon himself the functions of "Conductor" of the orchestra.
   Mr. Cramer sent word to this "learned leader" that as soon as
   he quitted the station he had assumed in the orchestra he (Mr.
   Cramer) should begin. Some demur was the consequence, which ended
   by Mr. Cramer's very properly being enabled to carry his point.

Christopher Webber,
Blackheath, London, UK
http://www.zarzuela.net "ZARZUELA!" The Spanish Music Site