Disinformation in Mass Media Gluck, Piccinni and the Journal de Paris

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.

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

Beverly Jerold is a writer and practicing musician based in New Jersey, USA.