Both their Majesties complimented the Marquis, and thanked us all separately for the pleasure they had had and the trouble we had given ourselves. The Emperor said to me, "Vous vous etes surpassee ce soir." I courtesied and asked him what he thought of the music. He hesitated before answering.

Toi, le charme inépuisable! Toi, toujours profond et toujours limpide! Toi, l'humanité complète et la simplicité de l'enfant! Toi, qui as tout ressenti, et tout exprimé dans une langue musicale qu'on n'a jamais surpassée et qu'on ne surpassera jamais. Mozart and Gluck, each in his respective sphere, carried opera to a point which seemed scarcely to admit of further development.