An overture is the name usually given to the orchestral piece played at the beginning of an opera, but during the 19th century composers began to write concert overtures.
These were pieces of orchestral music with one movement.
The concert overtures:
- existed purely in their own right
- were for concert performance
- were not connected with an opera
Well-known concert overtures include the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky which commemorates Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow in 1812. It incorporates French and Russian national anthems. The original score includes a large orchestra, military band, cathedral bells and cannon fire.
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