Overture No. 1 - Premiere Recording
Program Notes
Often for ballets or opera, they are preceded by a purely instrumental piece that introduces the ideas of the entire work before it begins. In a way, it's an entire story, whether told in 20 minutes or 3 hours, told in the span of one piece! I've found this to be fascinating and amazing, so I thought why not give it a try myself! From works like Bernstein's Overture to Candide, Verdi's Overture to La Forza del Destino, it's always a thrill to listen to these kinds of works!
Overture No. 1 is meant to be a stand alone work that works in the same way as the many overtures of the past : a way to introduce and tell a story. And this story in particular is composed of 3 large sections, the first being a energetic and lively kind of music. We then hear a dramatic transition with the first theme being played in minor and leading us to the more moving and ecstatic section of the piece. It's after this then we transition to something more emotional and contemplative, like the characters taking a darker turn in the story. But after all that we return back to the top and end the piece with a fantastic and grand coda! Quite the journey!
Who knows, maybe one of these days a larger worker can come after this overture!
- Composer