Olive Groves (Soprano)
The London Ensemble Quintet

Von Suppe's name is best remembered in this country by his Overture Poet and Peasant. It is one of the most popular light Overtures in existence, and one publishing firm alone has arrangements of it for no fewer than fifty-nine different combinations of instruments. In the course of his busy life he composed, according to one authority, 165 light pieces for the stage, as well as bigger and more important works, including two Grand Operas, a Mass, and a Requiem, and that list takes no account of such early work as another Mass which was performed when he was only fifteen.

A number of his light operas were given in London towards the end of last century, but it is now almost solely by such shorter pieces as this bright and melodious Overture that we know him.