The Right Kind of Patron

Piccinni, the composer who would later come close to beating Gluck in the battle for musical Paris, had a lucky break at the very start of his career.

Fresh from the Naples Conservatoire, he offered his first opera to a manager. Like many first attempts, it was refused.

Prince Vintimilla heard about the rejection and paid the manager a visit. “How much would you lose if you staged Piccinni’s opera and it failed?” he asked.

“Fifteen hundred dollars,” the manager replied.

“Here it is,” said the Prince. “If the opera fails, you may keep the money. If it succeeds, you can return it to me.”

The opera was produced and proved a great success. It put Piccinni on the map and gave him a reputation that stayed bright until he met his Waterloo in competition with Gluck in Paris.