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…
Alan Menken: Overture from Beauty and the Beast Context When originally released in 1991, Alan Menken’s score for Beauty and the Beast was regarded as one of his best. The Oscar-winning score, with lyrics by Howard Ashman, was then recreated in the 2017 live-action version of the film. This new Read more…
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…
Dmitri Shostakovich: Festive Overture Context Commissioned by the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow at the very last minute for the 37th anniversary of the 1917 Revolution event in 1954, Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture was composed in a matter of days. The premiere took place in November 1954, performed by the Bolshoi Theatre Read more…
Ralph Vaughan Williams: The Wasps Overture Context Ralph Vaughan Williams composed the incidental music for a production of Aristophane’s The Wasps in 1909. The music is quite lengthy, with there only being a handful of full recordings of the full production. The overture, however, has gained more success as a Read more…
Bedřich Smetana: The Bartered Bride Overture Context The Bartered Bride is a comic opera that was composed between 1863-1866. The music was composed by Bedřich Smetana, with the libretto by Karel Sabina. The opera gave its first performance at the Provisional Theatre in May 1866. The opera is set in Read more…
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: Overture in C Context Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel is, for many, one of the most celebrated female composers today. Her incredible catalogue of chamber music in particular has pleased many musicians and audiences alike over the last few decades. However, this has not always been the case. Hensel was often Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus Overture Context The Creatures of Prometheus is a ballet composed in 1801 by Ludwig van Beethoven. The ballet premiered in March 1801 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, and received its US premiere in 1808. The ballet is the only one that Beethoven wrote. Read more…
Philip Sparke: A Yorkshire Overture Context Born in 1951 in London, Philip Sparked studied composition, trumpet performance and piano performance at the Royal College of Music. Due to his affiliation with brass, Sparke is known for his many popular works for both brass bands and wind orchestras. Sparke has won Read more…