From Birmingham
TO Racine's drama about Athaliah (founded on the narrative in 2 Chronicles, xxii and xxiii) Mendelssohn, by command of the King of Prussia, wrote an Overture and incidental music.
The Overture begins with a slow Introduction having a hymn-like melody, taken from a chorus in the work. A short passage in animated style leads to the main body of the Overture, bold and dignified music founded on two themes; one of them is new, and the other has already been heard in the Slow Introduction.