Christoph Willibald Gluck has come down to us as one the great operatic reformers. Yet, of his dozens of operas (about 35 survive), he’s pretty much remembered for but a single work, “Orfeo ed Euridice” – especially the “Dance of the Blessed Spirits.”

On the other side of the coin is his “Dance of the Furies.” I wonder if he would find the diablerie of this interpretation as intriguing as I do.

Think you don’t know the “Dance of the Blessed Spirits?” Click here!

Gluck’s own blessed spirit lives on primarily through his influence on others – Mozart, Weber, Berlioz, and Wagner. For Gluck, words and music were to bear equal weight. No more, the florid, showy arias of yore, ornamented beyond recognition by star castrati. DRAMA was to be of foremost importance.

Dame Janet Baker sings “Che farò senza Euridice?”:

Don’t be sad, Gluck. “Glück” is German for happiness!

Happy birthday, Christoph. Zum Geburtstag viel Glück!