Classical

Germany

Christoph Willibald Gluck

Top Songs By Christoph Willibald Gluck

Orfeo & Euridice, Ach, Ich Habe Sie VerlorenChristoph Willibald Gluck

Orpheus And Eurydike: Reigen Seeliger GeisterChristoph Willibald Gluck

Listen to Orfeo ed Euridice: Act II - "Dance of the Blessed Spirits" by Christoph Willibald Gluck, Gewandhausorchester & Horst Förster, see lyrics, music video & more!

Orfeo ed Euridice: Act II - "Dance of the Blessed Spirits"Christoph Willibald Gluck, Gewandhausorchester & Horst Förster

Listen to Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30 - Arranged Sgambati: Melodie dell'Orfeo by KaJeng WONG & Christoph Willibald Gluck, see lyrics, music video & more!

Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30 - Arranged Sgambati: Melodie dell'OrfeoKaJeng WONG & Christoph Willibald Gluck

Listen to Gluck: Paride ed Elena - O del mio dolce ardor (High Voice) [feat. Christoph Willibald Gluck] by Brian Lee, see lyrics, music video & more!

Gluck: Paride ed Elena - O del mio dolce ardor (High Voice) [feat. Christoph Willibald Gluck]Brian Lee

Listen to Im Reich der Schatten, Act II, Scene 1: "Welch ungewohnter Trieb II" (Chor) by Neue Nürnberger Ratsmusik, Martin Ellrodt, Christoph Willibald Gluck & Michael Kämmle, see lyrics, music video & more!

Im Reich der Schatten, Act II, Scene 1: "Welch ungewohnter Trieb II" (Chor)Neue Nürnberger Ratsmusik, Martin Ellrodt, Christoph Willibald Gluck & Michael Kämmle

Listen to Andante (feat. Christoph Willibald Gluck) by mirage, see lyrics, music video & more!

Andante (feat. Christoph Willibald Gluck)mirage

Listen to Melodie (feat. Christoph Willibald Gluck) by mirage, see lyrics, music video & more!

Melodie (feat. Christoph Willibald Gluck)mirage

Listen to Mandulinata di Napoli by Joseph Schmidt & Christoph Willibald Gluck, see lyrics, music video & more!

Mandulinata di NapoliJoseph Schmidt & Christoph Willibald Gluck

Listen to Orfeo ed Euridice: Medley: Danza delle furie I / Ah! Se intorno a quest'urna funesta / Gli sguardi trattiene / Danza delle furie II / Vieni a' regni Dei riposo / Che fiero momento / Che farò senza Euridice / Gavotte / Tendre amour (Karaoke Version) by Experts Studio Orchestra & Christoph Willibald Gluck, see lyrics, music video & more!

Orfeo ed Euridice: Medley: Danza delle furie I / Ah! Se intorno a quest'urna funesta / Gli sguardi trattiene / Danza delle furie II / Vieni a' regni Dei riposo / Che fiero momento / Che farò senza Euridice / Gavotte / Tendre amour (Karaoke Version)Experts Studio Orchestra & Christoph Willibald Gluck

Latest Release

Listen to Grieg: Morning Mood - Albinoni: Adagio - Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits - Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring & Badinerie & Other Classical Hits by Antonio Vivaldi, Benjamin Godard, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Edvard Grieg, Gabriel Fauré, George Frideric Handel, Georges Bizet, Jacques Offenbach, Johann Pachelbel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Joseph Haydn, Jules Massenet, Luigi Boccherini, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sir Neville Marriner, Tomaso Albinoni & Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

ALBUMGrieg: Morning Mood - Albinoni: Adagio - Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits - Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring & Badinerie & Other Classical HitsAntonio Vivaldi, Benjamin Godard, Christoph Willibald Gluck, Edvard Grieg, Gabriel Fauré, George Frideric Handel, Georges Bizet, Jacques Offenbach, Johann Pachelbel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Joseph Haydn, Jules Massenet, Luigi Boccherini, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sir Neville Marriner, Tomaso Albinoni & Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

More albums from Christoph Willibald Gluck

Listen to Gluck Arias by The Mozartists, Ann Hallenberg & Ian Page

ALBUMGluck AriasThe Mozartists, Ann Hallenberg & Ian Page

ALBUMGluck: Orphée et Eurydice (Paris Version)Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Ana Vieira Leite & Julie Roset

Listen to Liping Zhang & Jialin Zhang - Sogno: Selected Italian Songs by Liping Zhang & ZHANG Jialin

ALBUMLiping Zhang & Jialin Zhang - Sogno: Selected Italian SongsLiping Zhang & ZHANG Jialin

Listen to Métopes: Myths, Legends and Tales by Giulia Contaldo

ALBUMMétopes: Myths, Legends and TalesGiulia Contaldo

Listen to Doctor Gradus by Edoardo Turbil

ALBUMDoctor GradusEdoardo Turbil

Listen to Gluck: Iphigénie en Aulide by Judith Van Wanroij, Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Cyrille Dubois, Tassis Christoyannis, Jean-Sébastien Bou, Les Chantres du Centre de Musique baroque de Versailles, Le Concert de la Loge & Julien Chauvin

ALBUMGluck: Iphigénie en AulideJudith Van Wanroij, Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Cyrille Dubois, Tassis Christoyannis, Jean-Sébastien Bou, Les Chantres du Centre de Musique baroque de Versailles, Le Concert de la Loge & Julien Chauvin

Listen to Badinerie by Julien Beaudiment & Marie-Pierre Langlamet

ALBUMBadinerieJulien Beaudiment & Marie-Pierre Langlamet

Listen to Handel Remembered by Kenneth Hamilton

ALBUMHandel RememberedKenneth Hamilton

Listen to Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30 by Stefan Plewniak, Jakub Józef Orliński, Il Giardino d'Amore, Elsa Dreisig & Fatma Said

ALBUMGluck: Orfeo ed Euridice, Wq. 30Stefan Plewniak, Jakub Józef Orliński, Il Giardino d'Amore, Elsa Dreisig & Fatma Said

Listen to Encores by Massimiliano Martinelli & Jonathan Floril

ALBUMEncoresMassimiliano Martinelli & Jonathan Floril

Listen to Eroica / Erard by Luca Montebugnoli

ALBUMEroica / ErardLuca Montebugnoli

Listen to Air on the G String – Wilhelmj: Baroque Arrangements by Masamichi Yokoshima

ALBUMAir on the G String – Wilhelmj: Baroque ArrangementsMasamichi Yokoshima

Listen to Gluck: Opera Arias by Elena de Simone & Ensemble Il Mosaico

ALBUMGluck: Opera AriasElena de Simone & Ensemble Il Mosaico

Listen to Classique fantastique by Le Concert Impromptu & Bruno Belthoise

ALBUMClassique fantastiqueLe Concert Impromptu & Bruno Belthoise

Listen to Pour Marie-Antoinette - Haydn: Symphonies Le Matin, Le Midi & Le Soir by Stefan Plewniak & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal

ALBUMPour Marie-Antoinette - Haydn: Symphonies Le Matin, Le Midi & Le SoirStefan Plewniak & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal

ALBUMChange: piano transcriptionsMario Sollazzo

Listen to Gluck: Echo & Narcisse by Hervé Niquet, Myriam Leblanc, Le Concert Spirituel, Adriana González, Cyrille Dubois & Sahy Ratia

ALBUMGluck: Echo & NarcisseHervé Niquet, Myriam Leblanc, Le Concert Spirituel, Adriana González, Cyrille Dubois & Sahy Ratia

Listen to Cosmic Classical: Cancer by Gustav Mahler, Ottorino Respighi & Christoph Willibald Gluck

ALBUMCosmic Classical: CancerGustav Mahler, Ottorino Respighi & Christoph Willibald Gluck

Listen to Bach, Mozart, Gluck–Sgambati by Jill Crossland

ALBUMBach, Mozart, Gluck–SgambatiJill Crossland

Listen to Favoritos by Eugenio Jiménez & Natalia Kuchaeva

ALBUMFavoritosEugenio Jiménez & Natalia Kuchaeva

Listen to Mozart, Gluck & Others: Italian Arias by Filippo Mineccia, Orchestra Farnesiana & Luca Oberti

ALBUMMozart, Gluck & Others: Italian AriasFilippo Mineccia, Orchestra Farnesiana & Luca Oberti

Listen to Gluck: Don Juan - Semiramis by Jordi Savall & Le Concert des Nations

ALBUMGluck: Don Juan - SemiramisJordi Savall & Le Concert des Nations

Listen to Pop Songs by Jan Vogler, BBC Philharmonic & Omer Meir Wellber

ALBUMPop SongsJan Vogler, BBC Philharmonic & Omer Meir Wellber

Listen to Emotions by Łukasz Długosz & Roman Perucki

ALBUMEmotionsŁukasz Długosz & Roman Perucki

Listen to La traversée by Patricia Petibon, La Cetra Barockorchester Basel & Andrea Marcon

ALBUMLa traverséePatricia Petibon, La Cetra Barockorchester Basel & Andrea Marcon

ALBUMRetrospectiva De La ÓperaViviana Mella Espinoza & Luis Fernando Velasco Navarro

Listen to La Captive du sérail by Florie Valiquette, Gaétan Jarry & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal

ALBUMLa Captive du sérailFlorie Valiquette, Gaétan Jarry & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal

Listen to Les caractères de la danse. Du Bourgeois gentilhomme à Orphée by Reinhard Goebel & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal

ALBUMLes caractères de la danse. Du Bourgeois gentilhomme à OrphéeReinhard Goebel & Orchestre de l'Opéra Royal

ALBUMPrima Registrazione Mondiale: Organo Giovanni Bruna 1795 ca Amedeo Ramasco 1839, Chiesa SS. Trinità e S. Carlo, Tavigliano (BI)”Roberto Cognazzo

Listen to Gluck: Orphée et Eurydice, Tragic Opera in three acts by Hans Rosbaud, Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux & Léopold Simoneau

ALBUMGluck: Orphée et Eurydice, Tragic Opera in three actsHans Rosbaud, Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux & Léopold Simoneau

Listen to Gluck: Orfeo Ed Euridice - 1762 Edition with 1774 Paris Revisions by Teresa Stich-Randall, Maureen Forrester & Sir Charles Mackerras

ALBUMGluck: Orfeo Ed Euridice - 1762 Edition with 1774 Paris RevisionsTeresa Stich-Randall, Maureen Forrester & Sir Charles Mackerras

Listen to Haydn: Symphony No. 94 "Surprise" - Gluck: Overture from Alceste by Wilhelm Furtwängler

ALBUMHaydn: Symphony No. 94 "Surprise" - Gluck: Overture from AlcesteWilhelm Furtwängler

ALBUMBellissimoAzumi Nishizawa

Listen to Romantique - Yeonsun Joo, Cello by Yeonsun Joo & Jay JungJae Moon

ALBUMRomantique - Yeonsun Joo, CelloYeonsun Joo & Jay JungJae Moon

Listen to Dawn Live! by Dawn Williams, Lucian Zidaru & Clay Smith

ALBUMDawn Live!Dawn Williams, Lucian Zidaru & Clay Smith

Listen to Baroque Arias for Horn (Beyond Words) by Felix Klieser & CHAARTS Chamber Artists

ALBUMBaroque Arias for Horn (Beyond Words)Felix Klieser & CHAARTS Chamber Artists

Listen to Castradïva by Buddug Verona James & Andrew Wilson-Dickson

ALBUMCastradïvaBuddug Verona James & Andrew Wilson-Dickson

Listen to Im Reich der Schatten (Erzählt und musiziert nach der Oper "Orfeo ed Euridice" von Gluck) by Martin Ellrodt, Yosemeh Adjei, Corinna Schreiter & Neue Nürnberger Ratsmusik

ALBUMIm Reich der Schatten (Erzählt und musiziert nach der Oper "Orfeo ed Euridice" von Gluck)Martin Ellrodt, Yosemeh Adjei, Corinna Schreiter & Neue Nürnberger Ratsmusik

Listen to Care pupille by Samuel Mariño, Händelfestspielorchester Halle & Michael Hofstetter

ALBUMCare pupilleSamuel Mariño, Händelfestspielorchester Halle & Michael Hofstetter

Listen to The Other Cleopatra: Queen of Armenia by Isabel Bayrakdarian, Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, Constantine Orbelian & Jory Vinikour

ALBUMThe Other Cleopatra: Queen of ArmeniaIsabel Bayrakdarian, Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, Constantine Orbelian & Jory Vinikour

Listen to Brahms In Transcription - Piano Transcriptions of Symphony Movements and Hungarian Dances by Uriel Tsachor

ALBUMBrahms In Transcription - Piano Transcriptions of Symphony Movements and Hungarian DancesUriel Tsachor

Listen to Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen sings Gluck, Handel, and Vivaldi by American Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas & Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen

ALBUMAryeh Nussbaum Cohen sings Gluck, Handel, and VivaldiAmerican Bach Soloists, Jeffrey Thomas & Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen

ALBUMAlceste, Wq. 44Georges Daucampas

ALBUMMelodyOlga Scheps

ALBUMThirtyThomas Enhco

Listen to Estrellita by Elena Urioste & Tom Poster

ALBUMEstrellitaElena Urioste & Tom Poster

ALBUMLe Cadi Dupé, Wq. 29Mark Delisle

Listen to Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice by Philippe Jaroussky, Amanda Forsythe, Emöke Baráth, I Barocchisti & Diego Fasolis

ALBUMGluck: Orfeo ed EuridicePhilippe Jaroussky, Amanda Forsythe, Emöke Baráth, I Barocchisti & Diego Fasolis

ALBUMNote d'EuropaUto Ughi

ALBUMEnfersStéphane Degout, Pygmalion & Raphaël Pichon

Listen to Gluck: Orpheus & Eurydice (Opera Version Remasterisée) by Jérôme Baur

ALBUMGluck: Orpheus & Eurydice (Opera Version Remasterisée)Jérôme Baur

ALBUMArchetyponMary-Ellen Nesi, Armonia Atenea & George Petrou

Listen to Dances from Around the World by Chiu Villafranca Duo

ALBUMDances from Around the WorldChiu Villafranca Duo

Listen to Gluck: Alceste (1954 - Milan) - Callas Live Remastered by Maria Callas

ALBUMGluck: Alceste (1954 - Milan) - Callas Live RemasteredMaria Callas

Listen to Gluck: Ifigenia in Tauride (1957, Milan) - Callas Live Remastered by Maria Callas

ALBUMGluck: Ifigenia in Tauride (1957, Milan) - Callas Live RemasteredMaria Callas

Listen to All Visceral by Domenic DiCello

ALBUMAll VisceralDomenic DiCello

Listen to Classic Vienna: Mozart - Gluck - Haydn by Lena Belkina, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra & Andrea Sanguineti

ALBUMClassic Vienna: Mozart - Gluck - HaydnLena Belkina, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra & Andrea Sanguineti

Listen to Famous Overtures 7 by Philharmonic Wind Orchestra & Marc Reift

ALBUMFamous Overtures 7Philharmonic Wind Orchestra & Marc Reift

Listen to Harfenklänge für die Seele 3 (Harfe solo) by Silke Aichhorn

ALBUMHarfenklänge für die Seele 3 (Harfe solo)Silke Aichhorn

Listen to Heroes in Love by Sonia Prina, laBarocca & Ruben Jais

ALBUMHeroes in LoveSonia Prina, laBarocca & Ruben Jais

Listen to Erica Morini, Vol. 1: Wieniawski, Mozart & Sarasate by Erika Morini

ALBUMErica Morini, Vol. 1: Wieniawski, Mozart & SarasateErika Morini

Listen to Piano Soundscapes, Vol. 15 by Fanny Bloomfield Zeisler

ALBUMPiano Soundscapes, Vol. 15Fanny Bloomfield Zeisler

Listen to Bion Tsang: The Blue Rock Sessions by Bion Tsang

ALBUMBion Tsang: The Blue Rock SessionsBion Tsang

ALBUMMelodieAntal Zalai & József Balog

Listen to Martini: Requiem pour Louis XVI et Marie Antoinette by Musica Franconia Festival Choir, La Banda & Wolfgang Riedelbauch

ALBUMMartini: Requiem pour Louis XVI et Marie AntoinetteMusica Franconia Festival Choir, La Banda & Wolfgang Riedelbauch

Listen to Loves Me... Loves Me Not... by Camilla Tilling, Musica Saeculorum & Philipp von Steinaecker

ALBUMLoves Me... Loves Me Not...Camilla Tilling, Musica Saeculorum & Philipp von Steinaecker

ALBUMThe 12th RoomEzio Bosso

Listen to Henryk Szeryng in Recital by Henryk Szeryng

ALBUMHenryk Szeryng in RecitalHenryk Szeryng

Listen to Secret Sonnets by Alain Damas & Diego Rivera

ALBUMSecret SonnetsAlain Damas & Diego Rivera

Listen to Instrumentals 4 by David Warin Solomons

ALBUMInstrumentals 4David Warin Solomons

ALBUMSoarMin Lee

Listen to Romatic Journey - Music for Violin and Piano by Haoli Lin & Hai Jin

ALBUMRomatic Journey - Music for Violin and PianoHaoli Lin & Hai Jin

ALBUMReconnectionRuth McGinley

Listen to Voi che sapete by Tomoko Kawada & Ribon Aida

ALBUMVoi che sapeteTomoko Kawada & Ribon Aida

Listen to Ouvertüren by Bamberg Symphony Orchestra & Karl-Heinz Steffens

ALBUMOuvertürenBamberg Symphony Orchestra & Karl-Heinz Steffens

Listen to Bruno Walter at Carnegie Hall, New York City, December 23, 1954 (Live) by Bruno Walter & New York Philharmonic

ALBUMBruno Walter at Carnegie Hall, New York City, December 23, 1954 (Live)Bruno Walter & New York Philharmonic

ALBUMAmelita Galli-Curci: The Fabulousamelita Galli-Curci, Giuseppe De Luca & Tito Schipa

Listen to Arpeggione by David Leisner & Zuill Bailey

ALBUMArpeggioneDavid Leisner & Zuill Bailey

Listen to Dance Passion by Leticia Gómez-Tagle

ALBUMDance PassionLeticia Gómez-Tagle

Listen to Opus Baroque by Gérard Gahnassia

ALBUMOpus BaroqueGérard Gahnassia

Listen to Christoph Willibald Gluck: Le cinesi by Lamberto Gardelli

ALBUMChristoph Willibald Gluck: Le cinesiLamberto Gardelli

Listen to Famous Opera Arias by Grace Bumbry, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra & Stefan Soltesz

ALBUMFamous Opera AriasGrace Bumbry, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra & Stefan Soltesz

Listen to Famous Opera Arias by Brigitte Fassbaender, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra & Hans Graf

ALBUMFamous Opera AriasBrigitte Fassbaender, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra & Hans Graf

Listen to From Fritz to Django by Benjamin Schmid

ALBUMFrom Fritz to DjangoBenjamin Schmid

Listen to Gluck: Iphigenia auf Tauris (Iphigenia in Tauris), Wq. 46 by Franco Bonisolli, Pilar Lorengar, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Lamberto Gardelli & Munich Radio Orchestra

ALBUMGluck: Iphigenia auf Tauris (Iphigenia in Tauris), Wq. 46Franco Bonisolli, Pilar Lorengar, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Lamberto Gardelli & Munich Radio Orchestra

Listen to Gluck: La corona & La danza by Halina Górzynska, Ewa Ignatowicz, Lidia Juranek, Kazimierz Myrlak, Barbara Nowicka, Alicja Slowakiewicz, Warsaw Chamber Opera Orchestra & Tomasz Bugaj

ALBUMGluck: La corona & La danzaHalina Górzynska, Ewa Ignatowicz, Lidia Juranek, Kazimierz Myrlak, Barbara Nowicka, Alicja Slowakiewicz, Warsaw Chamber Opera Orchestra & Tomasz Bugaj

Listen to Gluck: La rencontre imprévue, Wq. 32 by Julie Kaufmann, Annegeer Stumphius, Robert Gambill, Claes-Hakan Ahnsjo, Munich Radio Orchestra & Leopold Hager

ALBUMGluck: La rencontre imprévue, Wq. 32Julie Kaufmann, Annegeer Stumphius, Robert Gambill, Claes-Hakan Ahnsjo, Munich Radio Orchestra & Leopold Hager

Listen to Gluck: Orphée et Eurydice, Wq. 30 by Elisabeth Söderström, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Ruth-Margret Pütz, Cappella Coloniensis & Ferdinand Leitner

ALBUMGluck: Orphée et Eurydice, Wq. 30Elisabeth Söderström, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Ruth-Margret Pütz, Cappella Coloniensis & Ferdinand Leitner

Listen to Gluck: Paride ed Elena (Paris and Helen), Wq. 39 by Franco Bonisolli, Ileana Cotrubas, Sylvia Greenberg, ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Anthony Spiri & Lothar Zagrosek

ALBUMGluck: Paride ed Elena (Paris and Helen), Wq. 39Franco Bonisolli, Ileana Cotrubas, Sylvia Greenberg, ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Anthony Spiri & Lothar Zagrosek

Listen to Idomeneo, Così fan tutte, Iphigenie auf Tauris, Fidelio, Cenerentola, Faust, Hoffmanns Erzählungen, Verkaufte Braut, Jenufa & Rake's Progress by Waldemar Kmentt

ALBUMIdomeneo, Così fan tutte, Iphigenie auf Tauris, Fidelio, Cenerentola, Faust, Hoffmanns Erzählungen, Verkaufte Braut, Jenufa & Rake's ProgressWaldemar Kmentt

Listen to Opera Fantasies for Violin, Vol. 2 by Livia Sohn, Geoff Nuttall & Benjamin Loeb

ALBUMOpera Fantasies for Violin, Vol. 2Livia Sohn, Geoff Nuttall & Benjamin Loeb

ALBUMSacred Songs WithinBevani

Listen to After a Dream by Duo Sull' Aria

ALBUMAfter a DreamDuo Sull' Aria

ALBUMVocaliseOlga Scheps

Listen to Joseph Keilberth: Rare Recordings (1943-1957) by Joseph Keilberth

ALBUMJoseph Keilberth: Rare Recordings (1943-1957)Joseph Keilberth

Listen to Peaceful Classics by Peter Vantine

ALBUMPeaceful ClassicsPeter Vantine

ALBUMKings, Princes & HeroesZvi Emanuel-Marial, Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin & Shalev Ad-El

ALBUMClassical Classics 2Otto Klemperer & Philharmonia Orchestra

Listen to 18th Century Opera Overtures by Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra & Hans Muller-Kray

ALBUM18th Century Opera OverturesStuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra & Hans Muller-Kray

Listen to Songs from Concerts by Florence Lippett

ALBUMSongs from ConcertsFlorence Lippett

Christoph Willibald Gluck's Popular Music Videos

Paride ed Elena, Wq 39: O del mio dolce ardor

Lena Belkina, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra & Andrea Sanguineti

Artist Playlists

Christoph Willibald Gluck Essentials

This composer brought serious tragedy back into fashion with his gripping operas.

About Christoph Willibald Gluck

Hometown

Erasbach, Germany

Born

1714

Genre

Classical

Although only his opera Orfeo ed Euridice remains in the regular repertoire today, Christoph Willibald Gluck exerted a profound influence over European music that long outlived him. Born in Bavaria in 1714, he scored early operatic successes in Milan, Venice, Turin, Naples, Copenhagen, and London. But it was in the 1760s that he made his name with a series of “reform” operas that reacted against the vacuity and primacy of vocal display by instead insisting that arias should be integral to dramatic development. He had already sown the seeds of the style in his ballet Don Juan (1761). Starting with Orfeo (1762; revised for Paris as Orphée et Eurydice in 1774) and continuing with Alceste (1767) and Paride ed Elena (1770), he put his innovative ideas into practice, influencing the operas of Mozart (especially Don Giovanni), Berlioz (who prepared an edition of Orphée that long remained standard), and Wagner (who studied and performed the 1774 opera Iphigénie en Aulide). An annual imperial stipend enabled him to live his last years in style in Vienna, where he died in 1787, mourned by musicians across Europe.