Sacchini and the Sacchinists at the heart of the quarrels

"The most famous musicians in Europe come by turns to try their skills on the stage in Paris. After Gluck, Piccinni and Bach, now Sacchini has presented an opera here." (Jean-François de La Harpe, Correspondance littéraire, IV, 1804, p. 86.) For his début in the French capital – an important event – Antonio Sacchini chose to present a musical setting of Renaud. The rehearsals proved to be as stormy as had been those of Iphigénie en Aulide and Roland, for like Gluck and Piccinni before him, Sacchini had prejudice and intrigue to contend with.