Jules Massenet: Meditation Context Used as an instrumental en’tract between scenes in Act II of Jules Massenet’s opera Thaïs, Meditation has since become a popular concert piece for violinists around the world. The piece reflects Thaïs, a beautiful courtesan, reflecting on big decisions that are coming their way. The orchestra Read more…
Franz von Suppé: Light Cavalry Overture Context Franz von Suppé’s 1866 operetta Leichte Kavallerie has remained seldom performed since its premiere in Vienna in 1866. However, the overture to the operetta has remained Suppé’s most popular and most performed work. Often heard in concert halls, as well as in film Read more…
Léo Delibes: Lakmé Prelude Context Léo Delibes’ three-act opera Lakmé is perhaps this French composer’s most well-known work. Composed between 1881-1882, Lakmé is based on Le Mariage de Loti by Pierre Loti, and Les babouches du Brahmane by Théodore Pavie. The Prelude to Lakmé is the first purely musical number Read more…
Scott Joplin: Treemonisha Overture Context Scott Joplin is remembered for being one of the most memorable ragtime composers of the turn-of-the-century during his lifetime (1868-1917). After Joplin’s death in 1917, ragtime music came out of the ‘mainstream’ line and started to form into the likes of jazz, big band swing Read more…
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Christmas Eve Introduction Context Composed between 1894-95, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Eve is an opera in four acts. Based on Nikolai Gogol’s short story with the same name, Rimsky-Korsakov wanted to add his traditional folk spin on this popular tale. The opera premiered in December 1895 at the Mariinsky Read more…
Vincenzo Bellini: Sinfonia from Norma Context Vincenzo Bellini’s most popular opera, Norma was first premiered in December of 1831. With a libretto by Alexandre Soumet, Norma became a leading example of the bel canto genre. Many of Bellini’s other works have been disregarded, yet Norma remains a true staple in Read more…
Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser Overture Context Tannhäuser is an 1845 opera with music and text by German composer Richard Wagner. The story centres around three German legends, Tannhäuser, Minnesänger and the tale of the Wartburg Song Contest. Full of fantastical characters like nymphs, sirens and goddesses, Tannhäuser’s story reflects themes that Read more…
Ethel Smyth: The Wreckers Overture Context Composed and premiered in 1906, The Wreckers is one of Dame Ethel Smyth’s most intriguing operas. The original libretto was in French and was written by Henry Brewster. Smyth tried hard to get a French performance of the opera, however the first performance was Read more…
Ethel Smyth: Fȇte Galante Overture Context Dame Ethel Smyth is one of the most important British composers that bridged the gap between the 19th and 20th centuries. She composed a number of orchestral works, chamber music, songs and six operas. Also a talented writer, Smyth also penned 9 books (in Read more…
Gioachino Rossini: Le siège de Corinthe Overture Context Le siège de Corinthe is the name of an 1826 opera by Gioachino Rossini. With a French libretto by Luigi Blocchi and Alexandre Soumet, the opera is based on Rossini’s re-worked music from his 1820 opera, Maometto II. His first French opera, Read more…