Great Overtures

Post by **cam** » Tue May 27, 2008 3:58 pm

You're right, markyboo. When the house lights dim, the spot hits the orchestra pit, and the first notes of the overture are played, I get a sort of frisson down my back.

markyboo · Post by **markyboo** » Mon May 26, 2008 9:35 pm

GYPSY and FUNNY GIRL. The overtures for these two Broadway musicals always make me feek like I am sitting in the dark, clutching my program, waiting for the curtain to open!

Post by **cam** » Sat May 24, 2008 3:01 pm

Some overtures set the mood and move right on to an opening number which firmly establishes that mood/setting: I am thinking of:
1. How To Succeed In Business Without Even Trying - overture moves right to the main character reading the book of the same name..
2. Pajama Game: after the short overture the music establishes a "busy" mode, the scene is a factory, and we hear "Time Study Man", which establishes the M.O. of one of the secondary characters.
This method is a very handy way to establish setting, mood and characterization in very short order.
Sweeney Todd's overture is more of a classical Prologue, as is the overture for A Funny Thing...

Post by **OscarGuy** » Sat May 24, 2008 2:23 pm

I really like the Mame overture.

Post by **cam** » Sat May 24, 2008 11:06 am

Yes, Okri, so do ! The "train" motif is established right away. A good overture sets the mood immediately. Another one is " My Fair Lady" and even "The Music Man". It can be a collection of song themes that we are going to hear later , or not.

Edited By cam on 1211645431

Post by **Okri** » Sat May 24, 2008 6:54 am

I love the overture to On the Twentieth Century.

Post by **cam** » Fri May 23, 2008 11:26 pm

I think that the overture to Carousel is one of the best. West Side Story and Sweeney Todd are among my favourites.

Post by **OscarGuy** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:46 pm

They are stylistically different and even Encyclopedia Britannica makes a distinction between Musical Theater and Opera. While they have some similarities, they are sufficiently different to warrant separate terms. And if they aren't, how would you distinguish them? You would have Opera and what?

Zahveed · Post by **Zahveed** » Mon May 19, 2008 4:38 pm

So operas count in your definition of theatre but not your definition of musical?

Post by **OscarGuy** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:29 pm

rain Bard wrote:Do opera overtures count in your definition of theatre?

My intention was musical theater, not opera. That's why I capitalized Musical, but I guess that wasn't terribly obvious. sorry about that.

Post by **rain Bard** » Mon May 19, 2008 2:26 pm

Do opera overtures count in your definition of theatre?

Post by **OscarGuy** » Mon May 19, 2008 10:23 am

What do you think are the best Musical overtures in theatre history?

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Great Overtures