Person details

Christoph Willibald, Ritter von Gluck

Gluck, Christoph Willibald von (1714-1787). Bohemian composer. Gained advanced musical education in Česká Kamenice and in Prague, learning the harpsichord, organ and violin as well as singing. In 1736 became chamber musician to Prince Lobkovic in Vienna, and a year later moved to Milan where he began to study and compose opera, producing his first work Artaserse in 1741. During the late 1740s he travelled extensively, including a visit to Prague in 1750, before settling in Vienna. There he produced his most important works over a period of some 30 years.