Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)

Composer of the Week

Donald Macleod showcases the life and music of Christoph Willibald Gluck

Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787) arguably did more to transform opera than any composer of his generation: thinking deeply about how text and music should work together, and trying to strip away fripperies to ensure it was urgent, powerful and arresting. His radical approaches made him one of the most influential composers in history - and yet today, he’s known in the concert hall almost exclusively for one work: his masterpiece “Orpheus and Eurydice”. This week, Donald Macleod puts that right: showcasing Gluck’s dazzling and enchanting music from across his life - whilst also showing off his most famous work.

Music Featured:

Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Orfeo ed Eurydice) Non hai cor per un'impresa (Ipermestra, Wq 7) Sperai vicino il lido (Demofoonte, Wq 3) Se in campo armato (La Sofonisba, Wq 5) Nobil onda (La Sofonisba, Wq 5) Orfeo ed Euridice (excerpts) M'opprime, m'affanna (La Sofonisba, Wq 5) Qual ira intempestiva … Oggi per me non sudi; Oggi per me sudi (La Contesa de'numi, Wq 14) Trio Sonata no I in C Major (1st mvt) Ciascun siegua il suo stile...Maggior follia non v'e (La Semiramide riconosciuta, Wq 13) Misera, dove son…; Ah! non son io (Ezio, Wq 15) Dance of the Furies (Orphee et Eurydice: Act 2, Scene 1) Tremo fra dubbi miei (La Clemenza di Tito, Wq 16) (Act 3) Son lungi e non mi brami (Le Cinesi, Wq 18) Berenice che fai (Antigono, Wq 21) Don Juan (selection) Divinités du Styx (Alceste, Wq 37) O Del Mio Dolce Ardor; Le Belle Immagini (Paride ed Elena, Wq 39) Vous essayez en vain - Par la crainte; Adieu, conservez dans votre âme (Iphigénie en Aulide, Wq 40) Gluck (arr Schubert) Rien de la nature (Echo et Narcisse) Armide (Act 5 opening) Iphigenie en Tauride, Wq 46 (excerpts) De Profundis Orphee et Eurydice (1774 Paris edition): Act 3 (finale)

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Steven Rajam for BBC Audio Wales & West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0022znr

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z