What is Alceste?

an overture that is linked by theme or mood to the ensuing action. Alceste also has no role for the castrato voice, although Gluck would return to using a castrato in his next opera, Paride ed Elena, and even rewrite the tenor role of Admetus for the soprano castrato Giuseppe Millico, in the 1770 revival of Alceste in Vienna.

Why does Admetus believe Alceste has abandoned him?

(Aria: “Divinites du Styx”) The people celebrate the king’s recovery. Admetus does not realize that Alceste has volunteered to die in his place, and his wife won’t give herself up until the record is set straight. When he learns the truth, Admetus believes that Alceste is in effect abandoning him, and would prefer to die himself.

Who is the composer of Alceste?

Alceste (Gluck) Christoph Willibald Gluck. Alceste, Wq. 37 (the later French version is Wq. 44), is an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck from 1767. The libretto (in Italian) was written by Ranieri de’ Calzabigi and based on the play Alcestis by Euripides.

What is the preface to Alceste?

When Gluck published the score of Alceste in 1769, he added a preface written by Calzabigi, which set out their ideals for operatic reform. The opera displays the features set out in this manifesto, namely: