Mozart:
- Opera Overtures
This Mozart overture collection contains 12 of Mozart’s overtures, some quite familiar and others not as well known, but still full of tuneful, melodic charm.
This collection contains Opera overtures of the young Mozart, all the way to the older Mozart. For Mozart fans, this is a definite must-have.
List of overtures:
Mozart:
- Le nozze di Figaro, K492: Overture
- Bastien und Bastienne, K50: Overture
- Der Schauspieldirektor, K486: Overture
- Lucio Silla, K135: Overture
- Così fan tutte, K588: Overture
- La finta giardiniera, K196: Overture
- Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K384: Overture
- Il re pastore, K208: Overture
- Idomeneo, K366: Overture
- La clemenza di Tito, K621: Overture
- Don Giovanni, K527: Overture
- Die Zauberflöte, K620: Overture
Performed by the Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Colin Davis conducting.
Here are a few examples from my Spotify file called “Hank’s Overtures”:
Mozart’s younger and less-known operas, and subsequently their overtures, are a little less inventive. However, even at a young age, Mozart’s ability to construct a tuneful melody, as well as his engaging orchestrations are amazing.
Mozart is very creative in melding the music of the overture with the themes of the opera. Also, his melodies and orchestrations exhibit some forward-looking composition also seen in his piano concertos. He also makes the overture into one continuous movement with little to no development.
Of particular note are the bubbly opening melody from the ‘Marriage of Figaro’ to the dramatic opening to ‘The Magic Flute’. This music is memorable, captivating, and fresh.
Sir Colin Davis and the Dresden Staatskapelle perform these pieces in a delightful, crisp, and clean style.
Here is the overture to ‘The Magic Flute’, with Sir Colin Davis:
And next, here is the overture to ‘The Marriage of Figaro’, with John Eliot Gardiner conducting the English Baroque Soloists – famous for their use of period instruments.
Tags: Mozart, Collin Davis, Dresden Staatskapelle