Piccinni, Niccolò (16 January 1728, Bari; 7 May 1800, Passy), composer, had created an impressive array of works before arriving in Paris at age 48 on 31 December 1776 to represent and to promote the Italian tradition in theatre music. Specifically, he was in the French capital to become the new champion of the old Buffonists that were about to attack Gluck and his powerful protectress, Marie-Antoinette. Piccinni set to work immediately on his first opera in France with the help of Marmontel…