in december 1776 he brought 'his fine rich and mellow bass voice' to the two-act opera "zelima and azore" (composed by thomas linley and the orchestra led by linley's son thomas, fresh from his studies with tartini), opposite vernon, dodd, and mrs. baddely. this was shortly before the premiere of "the school for scandal" in 1777: and in october 1778 bannister had the role of serjeant drill in the elder linley's two-act musical drama "the camp" (after sheridan), with the recruiting song "great caesar, once renown'd in fame".