Alceste
Tragédie-opéra in three acts
by Christoph Willibald Von Gluck
Mixed Choir - Sheet Music

Soprano voice solo (2), alto voice solo, tenor voice solo (3), baritone voice solo, bass voice solo (6), mixed choir, ballett, orchestra (2 Soprano Voice Solo, Alto Voice Solo, 3Tenor Voice Solo, BarSolo, 6Bass Voice Solo, Mixed choir, ballet, Orch) - Level 3

SKU: BA.BA05848-90

Tragédie-opéra in three acts. Composed by Christoph Willibald Von Gluck. Edited by Rudolf Gerber. Arranged by Hans Vogt. This edition: urtext edition. Paperback. Barenreiter Urtext. Paris version 1776. Vocal Score. Composed 1776. Duration 20 minutes. Baerenreiter Verlag #BA05848-90. Published by Baerenreiter Verlag (BA.BA05848-90).

ISBN 9790006558766. 27 x 19 cm inches. Text Language: French, German. Translation: Rudolf Gerber. Text: Gand Lebland Bailli Du Roullet, Marius-François-Louis / Calzabigi, Ranieri de'.

In 1774 Gluck had committed himself to supplying six stage works to the Academie Royale de Musique in Paris. This job he fulfilled partially by reworking works which had already been premiered in Vienna.
In the case of the Paris Alceste (1776), which Gluck had also originally composed for Vienna (1767), the composer created a completely new version which was to become the prototype of the so-called reform opera. The libretto was translated from the former Italian into French and was altered at the same time, but also the music was fundamentally changed: Gluck newly composed the recitatives and rearranged, enlarged or cut scenes.
The initial rejection of the work by the audience caused him to further alter the third act, for example by adding the character of Hercules as Alceste's saviour. In this form the opera finally became a big success.