A return to the essence of opera is perceived in Gluck’s work. Following the ideas put forward by Rousseau, he emphasized dramatic action and rejected all unnecessary ornamentation. A transitional figure between Baroque and Classicism, Gluck often turned to subjects from Antiquity, seeking what he called “beautiful simplicity.
 
By giving dignity to women, often neglected in the libertine 18th century, Gluck makes a radically innovative score.