Travel tips for opera lovers – Vienna and Wilibald Gluck

Gluck came to Vienna at the age of 36. There he married Maria Anna, who was half his age. After many years of traveling around, he had a permanent job, a home and could devote himself to composing. But it was to be another 12 years before he wrote “Orfeo ed Euridice”, the revolutionary work that produced a break with the baroque castrato era and exaggerated ornamentation of song. What exactly the new approach consists of, you will find summarized in the following link if you are interested:

https://opera-inside.com/orfeo-ed-euridice-by-ch-w-gluck-the-opera-guide-and-synopsis/

This so-called reform opera was not at all euphorically received by the Viennese at the beginning, but acceptance increased and with the follow-up work “Alceste” the already 50-year-old was able to establish himself as Europe’s musician of future. His new style revolutionized the opera seria, and Gluck became a beacon for all subsequent composers, Mozart included. In 1756 he received a knighthood from the Pope and henceforth called himself Knight of Gluck.

A special feature of the Viennese years was that Gluck became the music teacher of Maria Antonia, the daughter of Emperor Franz I and Maria Theresa. Maria Antonia was not an easy person, but found her only joy in music and dance. Due to the marriage policy of the Habsburgs, she was married to the French Dauphin in 1770 at the age of 14, and four years later became Queen of France alongside Louis XVI as Marie Antoinette. One of her first official acts was to bring Gluck to Paris as a reformer of music.