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Gluck, Christoph Willibald von

(Encyclopedia)Gluck, Christoph Willibald von krĭsˈtôf vĭlˈēbält fən glo͝ok [key], 1714–87, German-born operatic composer. Gluck revolutionized opera by establishing lyrical tragedy as a unified vital art...

Eschenbach, Christoph

(Encyclopedia)Eschenbach, Christoph, 1940–, German conductor and pianist, b. Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland), as Christoph Ringmann. Orphaned during World War II, he was adopted by Wallydore Eschenbach, h...

Gluck, Alma

(Encyclopedia)Gluck, Alma glo͝ok [key], 1884–1938, American soprano, b. Bucharest, Romania. Her real name was Reba Fiersohn. She sang (1909–12) at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, and was one of the firs...

Willibald, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Willibald, Saint wĭˈlĭbôld [key], d. 787?, English missionary in Germany. He traveled in the East and was sent from Rome on a mission to aid St. Boniface. He was made first bishop of Eichstätt. S...

Schwerin, Kurt Christoph, Graf von

(Encyclopedia)Schwerin, Kurt Christoph, Graf von ko͝ort krĭsˈtôf gräf fən shvārēnˈ [key], 1684–1757, Prussian field marshal. He was one of the most brilliant lieutenants of King Frederick II of Prussia i...

Graupner, Christoph

(Encyclopedia)Graupner, Christoph krĭsˈtôf groupˈnər [key], 1693–1760, German composer, studied at Leipzig with Johann Heinichen and Johann Kuhnau. After playing harpsichord at the Hamburg opera (1706–9) u...

Scheiner, Christoph

(Encyclopedia)Scheiner, Christoph krĭsˈtôf shīnˈər [key], 1579?–1650, German astronomer and mathematician, a Jesuit priest. He taught at Ingolstadt, Rome, and elsewhere and became rector of a Jesuit college...

Dohnányi, Ernst von

(Encyclopedia)Dohnányi, Ernst von ĕrˈnö [key], 1877–1960, Hungarian composer, pianist, and conductor. He studied at the Royal Academy, Budapest (1894–97), and later became its director. As a pianist he tour...

aria

(Encyclopedia)aria ärˈēə [key], elaborate and often lengthy solo song with instrumental accompaniment. In the 16th cent. it was a melody improvised over a strophic bass line, and a distinction was made between ...

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