As one of its detractors, Melchior Grimm, was forced to admit: "To judge of it, it is not enough to see it on paper and read the score; one must have seen the picture on the stage".
Som en af genrens modstandere, Melchior Grimm, nødtvungent måtte indrømme: "For at dømme det er det ikke nok at se det på papir og læse partituret; man må have det visuelle indtryk fra scenen med".