Composer

Christoph Willibald Gluck was a groundbreaking composer who reshaped the world of opera in the 18th century. Best known for his bold reforms that prioritised dramatic clarity and emotional depth, Gluck’s music bridged the Baroque and Classical eras, influencing composers like Mozart and paving the way for modern opera.

Gluck spent much of his career in Vienna, where he worked closely with the Habsburg court. It was here, in 1765, that he composed two of his most intimate and elegant works: Il Parnaso Confuso and La Corona. During the Valletta Early Opera Festival, these one-act operas will be joined together.

Originally written for performance by the imperial archduchesses—including a young Marie Antoinette—Il Parnaso Confuso is a light-hearted satire set on Mount Parnassus, where the muses debate who should sing at a royal wedding. In contrast, La Corona tells the heroic myth of the huntress Atalanta and was also intended for performance by royal women. Both works highlight Gluck’s gift for combining classical mythology with courtly sophistication, and for writing music that is both accessible and emotionally compelling.

With their refined orchestration and vocal brilliance, these works offer a unique insight into Gluck’s early style, allowing audiences to peer into his more famous operatic reforms. They also reflect a historical moment when opera was not only public spectacle but also private celebration, blending art with dynastic performance.

At this year’s Valletta Early Opera Festival, we honour Gluck’s legacy by bringing these rarely performed gems back to the stage, celebrating the composer’s enduring influence on opera’s evolution.