Composer of the Week - Christoph Willibald Gluck - Episode 3

In his lifetime, Gluck's achievements were overshadowed by a fiery debate on the relationship between words and music in opera. Gluck's manifesto, laid out in the preface to his opera Alceste, was to 'restrict music to its true function of serving poetry'. Donald Macleod investigates. Sinfonia and Marche (Alessandro) Musica Antiqua Koln Reinhard Goebel (conductor) Alceste (Act 3, scenes 3-5) Alceste ...... Theresa Ringholz (soprano) Admeto ...... Justin Lavender (tenor) Evandro ...... Jonas Degerfeldt (tenor) Ismene ...... Miriam Treichl (soprano) Gran sacerdote/Apollo ...... Lars Martinsson (baritone) Eumelo ...... Adam Giertz (treble) Aspasia ...... Emelie Clausen (soprano) Un banditore ...... Mattias Nilsson (baritone) L'Oracolo ...... Johan Lilja (bass) Drottningholm Theatre Chorus and Orchestra Arnold Ostman (conductor) Paride ed Elena (Overture; Act 1) Paride ...... Magdalena Kozena (mezzo-soprano) Amore ...... Carolyn Sampson (soprano) Gabrieli Consort and Players Paul McCreesh (conductor).