Gluck, Christoph Willibald (1714—1787)—was a German-born operatic composer whose work to reform opera had far-reaching influence. Gluck transformed opera by instituting the lyrical tragedy as a unified and essential art form.

Born in Erasbach on July 2, 1714, Gluck studied music at Prague and later in Italy with G. B. Sammartini. His first 10 Italian style operas were fruitfully performed in Italy between 1741—1745. A few years later in 1752, Gluck became the conductor of Prince Hildburghausen's private orchestra in Vienna.

For the next ten years, he orchestrated musical productions at the Viennese court. With his Greek inspired opera Orfeo ed Euridice in 1762, Gluck introduced an entirely new kind of opera fusing drama, emotion and music for the first time. Gluck went to Paris, in 1773, where his first important opera was performed. Often considered his masterpiece, his last important work, Iphigénie en Tauride (1779) firmly founded his reputation. Gluck died in 1787.

“Gluck.” Encarta Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Seattle: Microsoft, 2001.

“Gluck.” Yahoo! Encyclopedia. January 2004. http://education.yahoo.com/referenc.../entry?id=11580