Gluck's reforms

Christoph Willibald Gluck was an 18th-century composer who aimed to reform opera by shifting its focus from vocal showmanship to a more streamlined, emotionally impactful narrative. His reforms emphasized clarity in storytelling, integrating music and drama seamlessly. He reduced the use of ornate arias, favoring simpler melodies that served the text and advanced the plot. Gluck's works, like "Orfeo ed Euridice," showcased this unity, paving the way for modern opera. By prioritizing the relationship between music and emotion, he transformed the genre into a more expressive art form, influencing many composers who followed him.