Royal Academy of Music (company) directors of the Royal Academy of Music, imploring them: The performances of "Alessandro" went off with no signs of animosity between Bordoni and Cuzzoni or their respective supporters, but it was not very long after that tension between the two erupted. As 18th century musicologist Charles Burney observed about the Cuzzoni / Faustina rivalry: Handel's next opera."Admeto", again with roles for both sopranos, was well-received and had nineteen performances in its initial run, a mark of success for those times. Many audience members were extremely enthusiastic about the singers. At the conclusion of one of Cuzzoni's arias at a performance
The Royal Opera were, according to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", "beside themselves with enthusiasm". In 1968, on the recommendation of the Home Secretary, James Callaghan, the Queen conferred the title "The Royal Opera" on the company. It was the third stage company in the UK to be so honoured, following the Royal Ballet and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Webster retired in June 1970. The music critic Charles Osborne wrote, "When he retired, he handed over to his successor an organization of which any opera house in the world might be proud. No memorial could be more appropriate". The successor was Webster's former assistant,