Overture to an Italian Comedy
The Overture to an Italian Comedy for orchestra was composed in 1936 by Australian composer Arthur Benjamin; it was first performed in London on 2 March 1937, under the direction of Gordon Jacob. It follows in the tradition established by previous comedy overtures, such as Arnold Bax's Overture to a Picturesque Comedy (1930) and Le Cabaret (1921) by John Foulds.[1]
The piece opens fortissimo, presenting its first main subject in the woodwinds against pizzicato strings and creating a lively mood in the measure of a tarantella.[1] The second theme is much softer, and is presented by a solo French horn. Following this is a gayer melody for two flutes playing in thirds; this is soon taken up by the trumpets, who are instructed in the score to play in a "vulgar" manner. The opening subject returns, followed again by the "vulgar" theme, and the work ends in spirited fashion.[2]
The overture was originally written as the overture to Benjamin's one act comic opera Prima Donna, which was completed in 1933 but not produced until 1949.[3] The published score is subtitled "Ah, perdona se ti inganno", which can be translated as "Sorry you've been troubled".[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Calum MacDonald. Notes to Lyrita CD SRCD 314 (2007)
- ^ David Ewen, Encyclopedia of Concert Music (1959)
- ^ Prima Donna (1933), Boosey & Hawkes
- ^ Radio Times, Issue 801, 5th February 1939, p. 74
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