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.
Beverly Jerold is a writer and practicing musician based in New Jersey, USA.
References Introduction1: The Cast and SettingA New Print Medium The Major FiguresThe 1781 Reprint of Gluckist TextsJournalism at the New PaperThe Activities of Gluck’s AssociateEvents Before 1777Recitative and AirGluck’s Directing SkillsBerlioz on Gluck’s Scores2: Arnaud’s Correspondence to Italy3: The Journal de Paris on the Offensive Ridicule of MarmontelA Snare for La HarpeMarmontel’s EssaiThe Essai MisrepresentedInformed Commentaries on the EssaiAn Independent Assessment4: Libel of La Harpe by AllusionThe Risk of Serious CriticismThe Lettre par DAVID *** son AmiA Vindictive Matter from the Past5: The Armide EpisodeThe JPL Review of ArmideThe JP’s Campaign of DisinformationAnother Assessment 6: Piccinni’s Opera and Further EventsPiccinni’s RolandThe MélophileJournalists under Siege Discord Fomented The Club of Hercules7: Disinterested ObserversJohann Nicolaus ForkelFrançois-Louis d’EschernyLater Opinion from Paris8: Profit and PowerThe MotivesGluck’s Financial AcumenSummationTimeline of Major Events
