I don’t think it’s possible to bring up “famous opera overtures” and not talk about Rossini. His famous operatic melodies, perfectly written into his overtures, have become cultural staples in our culture, and we continue to hear his music in popular culture today. The funny thing I learned was that Rossini always kept his overtures for last, enough that on the DAY OF the first public performance of this opera, the opera director kept him locked in his room where he’d write the overture, and as each page were completed he’d hand it out the window to copyists who would rush to to make copies so the orchestra could rehearse in time before the evening. Think of how stressful that must have been! Anyway, my personal favorite of Rossini’s overtures comes from the Thieving Magpie, a family drama in which an “innocent” magpie seals a set of spoons, causing all kinds of misunderstandings and havoc.
Rossini - Overture to La gazza ladra
Beyond it’s earworm melodies, the overture is unique in its use of a kettle drum at the opening.
Stay tuned this week for more famous opera overtures, here on Musica in Extenso! - Nick O.