The founding in 1777 of the Journal de Paris, France’s first daily and distinctly commercial paper, represents an early use of disinformation as a tool for political gain, profit, and societal division. To attract a large readership and bar competition for C.W. Gluck’s works at the Paris Opéra, it launched a prolonged campaign of anonymous lies, mockery, and defamation against two prominent members of the Académie Française who wished the Opéra to be open to all deserving composers but lacked a comparable daily forum with which to defend themselves. In this unique episode, music served as a smokescreen for nefarious activity. No musical knowledge is necessary to follow this purely political drama.
Table of Contents:
References
Introduction
1: The Cast and Setting
A New Print Medium
The Major Figures
The 1781 Reprint of Gluckist Texts
Journalism at the New Paper
The Activities of Gluck’s Associate
Events Before 1777
Recitative and Air
Gluck’s Directing Skills
Berlioz on Gluck’s Scores
2: Arnaud’s Correspondence to Italy
3: The Journal de Paris on the Offensive
Ridicule of Marmontel
A Snare for La Harpe
Marmontel’s Essai
The Essai Misrepresented
Informed Commentaries on the Essai
An Independent Assessment
4: Libel of La Harpe by Allusion
The Risk of Serious Criticism
The Lettre par DAVID *** son Ami
A Vindictive Matter from the Past
5: The Armide Episode
The JPL Review of Armide
The JP’s Campaign of Disinformation
Another Assessment
6: Piccinni’s Opera and Further Events
Piccinni’s Roland
The Mélophile
Journalists under Siege
Discord Fomented
The Club of Hercules
7: Disinterested Observers
Johann Nicolaus Forkel
François-Louis d’Escherny
Later Opinion from Paris
8: Profit and Power
The Motives
Gluck’s Financial Acumen
Summation
Timeline of Major Events
About the Author :
Beverly Jerold is a writer and practicing musician based in New Jersey, USA.
