Final answer:
Salieri was indeed a respected musician during the 18th century, serving as a court composer and teaching notable pupils. His more traditional works contrasted with contemporaries like Berlioz, Wagner, and Strauss, who were known for their innovative compositions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antonio Salieri was indeed a respected musician in his time, which is the 18th century. Renowned for his contributions to classical music, Salieri held the position of court composer for the Habsburg monarchy and was recognized for his prolific output of operas, orchestral and chamber music.
He was a contemporary of other great composers, some of whom were known for pushing musical boundaries, like Hector Berlioz, Richard Wagner, and Richard Strauss. Unlike these innovators, however, Salieri was known for his more traditional style and his role within the established musical institutions in Vienna, the heart of classical music during that era.