grand
people came for my sake. But, as it always was in open houses, some
came to see the others, and most of them to enjoy the best music to be
heard in Paris. Such famous composers as Gretry, Sacchini, and
Martini often played pieces from their operas at my house before the
first performance. Our usual singers were Garat, Asvedo, Richer, and
Mme. Todi. My sister-in-law, who had a very fine voice and could sing
anything at sight, was very useful to us. Sometimes I sang myself, but
without much method, I confess. Garat may, perhaps, be mentioned as
the most extraordinary virtuoso who ever lived. Not only did no
difficulties exist for his flexible throat, but as to expression he
had no rival, and I think that no one has ever sung Gluck as well as
he. For instrumental music I had as a violinist Viotti, whose playing,
so full of grace, of force and expression, was ravishing. I also had
Jarnovick, Maestrino, and Prince Henry of Prussia, an excellent
amateur, who brought this first violinist besides. Salentin played the
hautboy, Hulmandel and Cramer the piano. Mme. de Montgerou came once,
soon after her marriage. Although she was very young then, she
nevertheless astonished my friends, who were very hard to please, by
her admirable execution, and especially by her expression; she really
made the instrument speak. Mme. Montgerou has since taken first rank
as a pianist, and distinguished herself as a composer.

At the time I gave my concerts people had taste and leisure for
amusement, and even some years later the love of music was so general
that it occasioned a serious quarrel between those who were called
Gluckists and Piccinists. All amateurs were divided into two opposing
factions. The usual field of battle was the garden of the Palais
Royal. There the partisans of Gluck and the partisans of Piccini went
at each other with such violence that there was more than one duel to
record. The women who were usually present comprised the Marquise de
Grollier, Mme. de Verdun, the Marquise de Sabran, who afterward
married the Chevalier de Boufflers, Mme. le Couteux du Molay--my
best friends, all four of them--the Marquise de Rouge, Mme. de Peze,
her friend, whom I painted in the same picture with her, and a host of
other French ladies, whom, owing to the smallness of my rooms, I could
receive but rarely, and all sorts of distinguished foreign ladies. As
for men, the list would be too long to write it down.

[Illustration: PEACE B