La Motte, Antoine Houdard de
(1672–1731)> LIBRETTIST
La Motte, Antoine Houdard de (17 January 1672, Paris; 26 December 1731, Paris), librettist, began his formal education with the Jesuits and went on to study law before renouncing the bar in favor of the theatre. His first work was a dismal failure at the Théâtre-Italien, and the mortified playwright decided to enter the Trappist order. After he had recovered from the blow to his pride, the refreshed author left the monastery to turn to the Royal Academy of Music with his successful L’Europe…