GLUCK, Christoph Willibald

b Erasbach, Bavaria, 2 July 1714

d Vienna, 15 November 1787, aged seventy-three

He was the son of a huntsman. It is believed that from 1724 to 1728 he was at a Jesuit school and that he entered Prague University in 1732. From then until 1736 he earned a living by teaching and by performing on violin, cello and keyboard instruments, and as assistant church organist. In 1736 he became chamber musician in the household of Prince Lobkowitz in Vienna. From 1737 to 1740 he studied music in Milan. By 1745 his operas were so successful that he was invited to London, where he met Arne and Handel. He returned to Vienna in 1749, and married a wealthy wife there in 1750. For a year or two he travelled widely, and in 1754 he was made musical director to the court of Francis I in Vienna, retiring from that post in

1764. He continued to work both in Vienna and Paris, but in 1781 he had a stroke which limited his activities in his remaining years.

1741 (27)

Artaserse, opera

1742 (28)

Demetrio, opera

1743 (29)

Il Tigrane, opera

1745 (31)

Ippolito, opera

1746 (32)

Artmene, opera

p Six Sonatas for two violins and continuo

1747 (33)

Le nozze d'Ercole e d'Ebe, opera

1750 (36)

Ezio, opera

1752 (38)

Issipile, opera

1753 (39)

Nine Symphonies

1755 (41)

Les Amours champetres, opera

Alessandro, ballet

1756 (42)

Antigono, opera

Le Chinois poli en France, opera

1758 (44)

L'lsle de Merlin, ou, le Monde renverse, opera

1759 (45)

L'Arbre enchanté, opera

1761 (47)

La Cadi dupe, opera

Don Juan, ballet

1762 (48)

Orfeo ed Euridice, opera

1764 (50)

Poro, opera

La Rencontre imprevue, opera

1765 (51)

Semiramide, ballet

1766 (52)

L'Orfano della China, ballet

1767 (53)

Alceste, opera

1770 (56)

Paride ed Elena, opera

1774 (60)

Iphigénie en Aulide, opera

1777 (63)

Armide, opera

1779 (65)

Iphigénie en Tauride, opera Gluck also wrote seven sonatas for two violins and bass.