This is a definitive biography of the composer Christoph Willibald Gluck by one of the foremost musicologists of the twentieth century. Alfred Einstein provides a detailed analysis of Gluck's life and works, including his most famous operas such as Orfeo ed Euridice and Alceste. This book is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history and development of opera.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.