Explore: the overture
With a name derived from the French word, meaning literally "opening", the overture has a long a varied history, running from an integral part of the baroque suite (also, confusingly, itself called an "Overture" in Bach's case) to free-standing concert pieces.
Read more…- Handel • Music for the Royal Fireworks HWV 351 • I. Ouverture. Adagio – Allegro – Lentement – AllegroMusic for the Royal Fireworks HWV 351
I. Ouverture. Adagio – Allegro – Lentement – AllegroAlfredo Bernardini, ZefiroAugust 2006, Catania, Cloister of the Jesuit College - Rameau • Les Indes galantes, Suite RCT 44 • OvertureLes Indes galantes, Suite RCT 44
OvertureChristophe Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques℗ 1997 - Bach • Orchestral Suite (Overture) No. 3 in D major BWV 1068 • I. OvertureOrchestral Suite (Overture) No. 3 in D major BWV 1068
I. OvertureFreiburger Barockorchester℗ 2011 - Mozart • Le nozze di Figaro KV 492: Overture • PrestoLe nozze di Figaro KV 492: Overture
PrestoDaniel Barenboim, West-Eastern Divan Orchestra℗ 2015 - Rossini • Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville): Overture • Andante maestoso – Allegro con brioIl barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville): Overture
Andante maestoso – Allegro con brioMichele Mariotti, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di BolognaMay 2018, Bologna, Library of the Convento San Domenico - Beethoven • Leonore Overture No. 3 op. 72b • Adagio – AllegroLeonore Overture No. 3 op. 72b
Adagio – AllegroNikolaus Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe℗ 1996 - Verdi • La forza del destino: Sinfonia • Allegro – Allegro agitato e prestoLa forza del destino: Sinfonia
Allegro – Allegro agitato e prestoClaudio Abbado, London Symphony Orchestra℗ 2014 - Mozart • Don Giovanni KV 527: Ouvertura • Andante – Molto allegroDon Giovanni KV 527: Ouvertura
Andante – Molto allegroBruno Weil, Tafelmusik℗ 1991 - Schubert • Overture in D major D 590 'in the Italian Style' • Adagio – Allegro giustoOverture in D major D 590 'in the Italian Style'
Adagio – Allegro giustoNikolaus Harnoncourt, Concertgebouworkest℗ 1993 - Schumann • Manfred op. 115: Overture • Rasch - Langsam - In leidenschaftlichem TempoManfred op. 115: Overture
Rasch - Langsam - In leidenschaftlichem TempoHeinz Holliger, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln℗ 2016 - Brahms • Tragische Ouvertüre (Tragic Overture) in D minor op. 81 • Allegro ma non troppo – Molto più moderato – Tempo primo ma tranquilloTragische Ouvertüre (Tragic Overture) in D minor op. 81
Allegro ma non troppo – Molto più moderato – Tempo primo ma tranquilloBernard Haitink, London Symphony Orchestra℗ 2004 - Rossini • Guillaume Tell: Overture • Andante – Allegro – Andantino – Allegro vivaceGuillaume Tell: Overture
Andante – Allegro – Andantino – Allegro vivaceMichele Mariotti, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di BolognaMay 2018, Bologna, Library of the Convento San Domenico - Strauss II (Jr.) • Die Fledermaus (The Bat): Overture • Allegro vivace - Allegretto - Tempo di valse - AllegroDie Fledermaus (The Bat): Overture
Allegro vivace - Allegretto - Tempo di valse - AllegroCarlos Kleiber, Wiener Philharmoniker℗ 1989 - Suppé • Leichte Kavallerie (Light Cavalry): Overture • MaestosoLeichte Kavallerie (Light Cavalry): Overture
MaestosoFranz Welser-Möst, Wiener Philharmoniker℗ 2013 - Wagner • Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen WWV 49: Ouvertüre • Molto sostenuto e maestoso – Allegro energico – Un poco più vivace – Molto più strettoRienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen WWV 49: Ouvertüre
Molto sostenuto e maestoso – Allegro energico – Un poco più vivace – Molto più strettoChristian Thielemann, Wiener Philharmoniker℗ 2004 - Berlioz • Le carnaval romain (Roman Carnival), Overture op. 9 H 95Le carnaval romain (Roman Carnival), Overture op. 9 H 95Daniel Barenboim, Orchestre de Paris℗ 1981
- Weber • Oberon J. 306: Overture • Adagio sostenuto – Allegro con fuocoOberon J. 306: Overture
Adagio sostenuto – Allegro con fuocoHoward Griffiths, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln2013 - 2014, Köln, Kölner Philharmonie - Glinka • Ruslan and Lyudmila: Overture • Ruslan und Lyudmila: OvertureRuslan and Lyudmila: Overture
Ruslan und Lyudmila: OvertureYuri Ahronovitch, London Symphony Orchestra℗ 2005 - Rimsky-Korsakov • Skazanie o nevidimom grade Kitezhe i deve Fevronii (The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya), Suite from the Opera • 1. Overture - In Praise of Solitude. Larghetto alla breveSkazanie o nevidimom grade Kitezhe i deve Fevronii (The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya), Suite from the Opera
1. Overture - In Praise of Solitude. Larghetto alla breveNeeme Järvi, Royal Scottish National Orchestra1984, Glasgow, City Hall - Dvořák • Dimitrij op. 64 B 127: Overture • OvertureDimitrij op. 64 B 127: Overture
OvertureHans Zimmer, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin1990, London, St. Jude's London - Borodin • Prince Igor: Overture • OverturePrince Igor: Overture
OvertureSir Charles Mackerras, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 1991, Liverpool, Philharmonic Hall - Sullivan • Macbeth: Overture
- Mendelssohn Bartholdy • Die Hebriden (The Hebrides), Overture op. 26 MWV P 7 "Fingalshöhle" ("Fingal’s Cave") • Allegro moderatoDie Hebriden (The Hebrides), Overture op. 26 MWV P 7 "Fingalshöhle" ("Fingal’s Cave")
Allegro moderatoSir John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra℗ 2018 - Walton • Portsmouth Point, Overture for Orchestra (1924-1925) • RobustoPortsmouth Point, Overture for Orchestra (1924-1925)
RobustoAndré Previn, London Symphony Orchestra℗ 1999 - Donizetti • Roberto Devereux: OvertureRoberto Devereux: OvertureEnrique Mazzola, Orchestre national d`Île-de-France℗ 2015
- Smetana • Festival Overture (Jubilee Overture) in D major op. 4 JB 1:39Festival Overture (Jubilee Overture) in D major op. 4 JB 1:39Theodore Kuchar, Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 2006
- Arnold • A Grand, Grand Overture op. 57 (1956)A Grand, Grand Overture op. 57 (1956)Kathy Jones (Vacuum Cleaner), Helena Miles (Vacuum Cleaner), Chris Hoyle (Vacuum Cleaner), Fiona Macintosh (Floor Polisher), Rumon Gamba
BBC PhilharmonicJanuary 2004, Manchester, Studio 7, New Broadcasting House - Copland • An Outdoor Overture (1938) • An Outdoor OvertureAn Outdoor Overture (1938)
An Outdoor OvertureAndrew Litton, Colorado SymphonyNovember 2014, Denver, Boettcher Concert Hall - Bernstein • Candide (New York City 1956): Overture • Allegro molto con brioCandide (New York City 1956): Overture
Allegro molto con brioMarin Alsop, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São PauloMay 2017, Brazil, Sala São Paulo - Nielsen • Maskarade FS 39 CNW 2: Overture • Allegro, ma non tantoMaskarade FS 39 CNW 2: Overture
Allegro, ma non tantoNeeme Järvi, Göteborgs Symfoniker℗ 1996 - Tchaikovsky • The Year 1812, Festival Overture op. 49 TH 49 “1812 Overture” • The Year 1812, Festival Overture op. 49 TH 49 "1812 Overture"The Year 1812, Festival Overture op. 49 TH 49
The Year 1812, Festival Overture op. 49 TH 49 "1812 Overture"Valery Gergiev, Mariinsky OrchestraFebruary 2009, Saint Petersburg, Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre - Shostakovich • Festive Overture in A major op. 96Festive Overture in A major op. 96Neeme Järvi, Royal Scottish National Orchestra1988, Glasgow, Henry Wood Hall
- Khachaturian • Greeting Overture for Orchestra (1958) • Allegro risolutoGreeting Overture for Orchestra (1958)
Allegro risolutoLoris Tjeknavorian, Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra℗ 1995 - Porter • Kiss Me Kate (1948): Overture
Early overtures were also called sinfonias (a term that lived on well into the 19th century) and their formal layout provided the basis for the nascent genre of the symphony. Overtures can be dramatic curtain-raisers in the opera house, where they often take the form of a 'Potpourri' of the work's hit tunes. Some descriptive overtures served as precursors to the tone poem, while others were written to reflect and celebrate grand occasions. This playlist covers that range, taking in some of the best-known overtures and taking you on a musical journey (loosely organised thematically and geographically) through the centuries. You’ll find grandeur, wit, pomp and occasionally a little bombast – not to mention some brilliantly arresting and engaging music.