Daniel François Esprit Auber: La Muette de Portici – Overture (NXP145)

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57 pages
Instrumentation: 1+2.2.2.2 - 4.2.3.1(oph)- timp - perc - strings
Edited by Dario Salvi

Daniel François Esprit Auber is, together with Jacques Offenbach, the main exponent of French Comic Opera.

With more than 40 operas at his name, his contribution to the genre is unique. This collection of scores includes some of his early works – for the first time available to the public.

The overtures from his operas are in truncated sonata form: Introduction, Exposition, Recapitulation/Sequence, Coda. The style is always light without any excess of emotion and full of Parisian elegance.

La Muette de Portici was the Auber’s first grand opéra. The story concerns the Neapolitan fisherman folk hero and revolutionary Massimo Aniello who led a popular rebellion against Spanish oppression in 1647. This opera is regarded as Auber’s masterpiece. The work rapidly became known all over the world, and revolutionised established traditions through the novelty of the subject and striking originality of the music.

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