A ridiculous thing to say

I could not disagree more with this evaluation. I agree that there was a decline in the Neapolitan tradition by the time Burney visited. I think even Jommelli himself told Burney, I forget. Burney met with Jommelli. But I also believe that the early settecento is the Augustan era of modern western music. It is the pinnacle of modern western music. What can one say? All good things come to an end. Too bad. It was so nice as long as it lasted. I have some ideas as to why it came to an end. The great French physicist and musicologist Jean Le Rond D'Alembert lamented that Pergolesi had died too young to turn western music upside down. As to Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, you state that "in Germany music moves forward." I could not disagree more. This trio learned everything from the Italians, e.g. Haydn from Porpora. But they can't hold melodies in the way that early settecento Italians did. It is something that was lost. Nothing wrong with Beethoven. But he is so loud (to hide deficiencies?). And Haydn's and Mozart's concertos all sound the same. If you've heard one, you've heard them all. In the moments in which they shine, it's all Italian music that they write. The rest is Haydn and Mozart muzac. But I agree with you on your initial observation. In 1770, Neapolitan music was not quite what it had been. It was so nice as long as it lasted. Music has never even been close to as good, Leonardo Vinci, Leonardo Leo, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. (And one might add, Sarro, Durante, and many others.) PS I overstated the decline of Naples in the late eighteenth century. Remember Paisiello and Cimarosa. They were the most popular musicians of the late eighteenth century. Both of them are far more melodical than the repetitive boring Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. The history of western music is totally messed up.

Haydn’s spiritual mentor was KPE Bach. A discussion with one who considers always the same Mozart’s concertos is simply pointless.

I completely disagree with this. There is no doubt in my mind that modern western music is Italy's gift to the world. Haydn is not "a thousand miles ahead." There is nothing wrong with his symphonies. But they all sound the same. And all that is pleasant in his music he learned from Porpora, the Neapolitan composer. Joseph, I regret to tell you. You're no Porpora. Porpora's music is far superior. But in order to strengthen the narrative of Teutonic superiority, Porpora's music was condemned as antiquated or the like. And he was relegated to the dustbin of musical history, But his star seems to be on the rise. Porpora was also superior to Handel, Nothing wrong with Handel, though. As to Mozart, it is beautiful music. But everything that is interesting in him is Italian. The rest is just Mozart muzac, let's just call it Mozac. There is too much Mozac in the world.

If they sound all’ the same to you it iş a problem of yours.