(From Birmingham)
EDWIN J. GODBOLD
(Organ)
HERBERT FLINT (Tenor)
ONI.Y the Overture of Semiramide now survives. It is interesting, however, to recall that the opera itself made something of a success at the King's Theatre, London, in 1824, after being a rather discouraging failure on its original production at Venice the year before.
The Overture begins with a vigorous measure where strings and wood-wind combine, over a continued roll on the drums, to build up a thrilling climax. Then there comes a more slowly-moving section, Dasea on a duet which is sung in the opera by the heroine, Semiramis, Empress of Nineveh, and Arsaces, the leader of her armies, and, though she does not know it, her son. This slower section is followed by another Allegro, which brings the work to an end with all Rossini's usual brilliance and energy.