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Opera

Blogs

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov ‘Christmas Eve Introduction’: One More Sleep

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…

By Alex Burns, 2 years ago
Blogs

Vincenzo Bellini ‘Sinfonia from Norma’: A Tragic Story

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…

By Alex Burns, 2 years ago
Blogs

Richard Wagner ‘Tannhäuser Overture’: Dual Personalities

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…

By Alex Burns, 2 years ago
Blogs

Ethel Smyth ‘The Wreckers Overture’: Impressions of a Strange World

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…

By Alex Burns, 2 years11 months ago
Blogs

Ethel Smyth ‘Fȇte Galante Overture’: A Traditional Step

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…

By Alex Burns, 2 years11 months ago
Blogs

Gioachino Rossini ‘Le siège de Corinthe Overture’: Dramatic Beginnings

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…

By Alex Burns, 2 years ago
Blogs

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ‘Don Giovanni Overture’: A Dramatic Entry

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni Overture Context Composed in 1787, Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts. Its popularity when it premiered shot it into immediate success, and in the modern day it still remains as one of the most popular operas of all time. Don Giovanni cleverly intertwines both serious drama and comedy Read more…

By Alex Burns, 2 years2 years ago
Blogs

Leonard Bernstein ‘Overture to Candide’: Jubilation!

Leonard Bernstein: Overture to Candide Context Leonard Bernstein composed the music for the operetta Candide in 1955-56. The operetta is based on the 1759 novella of the same name by Voltaire. The premiere was unsuccessful and after some revisions and creative changes, Candide has become a very popular show.  The Read more…

By Alex Burns, 2 years2 years ago
Blogs

Mikhail Glinka ‘Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture’: Fizzing with Excitement

Mikhail Glinka: Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture Context Composed between 1837-42, Mikhail Glinka’s opera Ruslan and Lyudmila is based on Alexander Pushkin’s poem of the same name. Split into five acts, the opera’s libretto was written by Valerian Shirkov, Nestor Kukolnik and N.A. Markevich. Seldom performed as a full-scale opera today, Read more…

By Alex Burns, 2 years2 years ago
Blogs

Zoltán Kodály ‘Háry János Suite’: Hungary in Satire

Zoltán Kodály: Háry János Suite Context Premiering at the Royal Hungarian Opera House in 1926, Zoltán Kodály’s folk opera Háry János has remained one of his more popular large-scale works. Based on the comic epic The Veteran by János Garay, with a Hungarian libretto by Béla Paulini, Háry János showcases Read more…

By Alex Burns, 2 years2 years ago

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  • Engelbert Humperdinck ‘Hansel and Gretel Overture’: A Tasty Treat!
  • Morton Lauridsen ‘O Magnum Mysterium’: Ethereal Voices
  • William Grant Still ‘Lyric Quartet’: A Trio of Characters
  • Robert Muczynski ‘A Serenade for Summer’: Atmospheric Season
  • Vítĕzslava Kaprálová ‘Elegy’: A Forgotten Brno Gem

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