Gluck, Christoph Willibald.

expressing the pleasure he derives from reading his works, noting how obliged he is to the Count de Bracas for having introduced him to one of France's great geniuses, observing that, had he been familiar with his works - his comedy Les philosophes and La Dunciade - during his time in Paris, they would have served him well against the jibes of Marmontel and his supporters, adding that, should he return to the French capital, his writings will serve as a defence against these 'insects of Parnassus' ("...si jamais je reviens à Paris, vos ouvrages me serviront d'Egide contre ses [sic] Insectes du Parnasse..."); in the closing part of the letter Gluck refers to its bearer, the cellist Joseph Jansen, who is very glad to make his acquaintance,1 page, 4to, integral autograph address panel, remains of seal, Vienna, 18 March 1780 [Kinsky 10] 



A fine letter dating from Gluck's last years in Vienna, referring bitingly to his critics - specifically the writer Jean François Marmontel (1723-1799) - in the earlier infamous war of words between Parisian supporters of his operatic reforms and advocates of Piccinni's operas.

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Following his virtual retirement to Vienna in the autumn of 1779, Gluck toyed with the idea of returning to Paris, but, although he maintained connections with the city and its intellectual life, as the present letter demonstrates, his declining health prevented any prospect of such a return. The recipient of this full and revealing letter was the French playwright and satirist Charles Palissot de Montenoy (1730-1814), whose 1760 comedy Les Philosophes and 1764 poem La Dunciade  were intended as an attack on the sterility of philosophical language, especially as perpetrated by Diderot. This letter was formerly in the celebrated collection of Louis Koch.