Relayed from the National Museum of Wales

National Orchestra of Wales

Rienzi, one of Wagner's earlier operas, is founded upon Bulwer Lytton's novel of the same name. The Overture is a rather rowdy piece of work, but stirring.
After a few bars of Introduction, we hear, very softly, a well-shaped, rather slow tune in the Violins (Rienzi's Prayer). This proceeds and is soon taken up, loudly, by the full Orchestra
After a time the music comes to a period, and makes a fresh start in a quick and energetic style The Wind instruments have loud repeated chords, the 'Cellos and Double-basses do rapid down-hill seales.
Soon after comes a very striking passage, in which the Brass alone thunders out the Call to Arms from the opera.
Then comes the Rienzi's Prayer tune again (but quicker this time than before), and after that the Call to Arms again, and then a stirring march-like tune, at first in Strings and Woodwind softly, but soon afterwards by all the instruments of the Orchestra, as loudly as they can do it.
Out of these tunes the Overture is constructed.
(to 12.45)