Christoph Willibald Gluck was born on July 2, 1714, in Erasbach, Upper Palatinate, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire, now in modern-day Bavaria, Germany. He died on November 15, 1787, in Vienna, Austria. Gluck was a pivotal figure in the development of opera during the early classical period, known for his significant reforms in operatic dramaturgy.

Gluck's family background was rooted in forestry, with his father Alexander Gluck serving as a forester. Despite his father's wishes for him to continue in the family profession, Gluck was drawn to music from an early age. He left home, likely around 1727, to pursue his passion, eventually making his way to Prague and later to Vienna. In Vienna, he was discovered by a Lombard nobleman who took him to Milan. There, Gluck studied composition under Giovanni Battista Sammartini, an experience that shaped his musical style.

Gluck's career as a composer began with a series of operas in Italy, starting with "Artaserse" in 1741. He continued to compose operas annually, adhering to the Italian operatic fashion of the time. However, his true legacy lies in the operatic reforms he initiated at the Habsburg court in Vienna. Gluck sought to break free from the constraints of Metastasian opera seria, which had dominated the operatic scene. His works, such as "Orfeo ed Euridice" (1762) and "Alceste" (1767), introduced more drama by employing orchestral recitative and reducing the length of da capo arias.

In 1773, influenced by French opera, Gluck moved to Paris, where he wrote eight operas for the Parisian stage. His "Iphigénie en Tauride" (1779) was particularly successful and is often regarded as his finest work. Despite his popularity, Gluck faced challenges in Paris, and after the poor reception of "Echo et Narcisse" (1779), he returned to Vienna, where he spent the remainder of his life.

Gluck's contributions to opera were transformative, redefining the relationship between music and drama and advocating for original libretti. His innovative approach influenced future composers, including Mozart and Berlioz. Gluck's legacy endures through his operas, which continue to be celebrated for their dramatic intensity and musical innovation.