Relayed from the National Museum of Wales
National Orchestra of Wales
(Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Cymru)
In 1872, at the age of thirty-seven, Saint-Saens made his first appearance as a composer for the stage, then as now, the surest road to public success in the French world of music. He was already known as a pianist and organist of the very front rank, and as a successful composer in other directions, but The Yellow Princess, his first venture in the theatre, was not very fortunate. It was a short one-act piece, which is now never performed. His second opera, a more elaborate, fantastic work in four acts, was scarcely more successful in Paris, and after that, the doors of the Paris Opera were sternly closed to him for some years. Even Samson and Delilah was refused a hearing there until after its successful production in Weimar.
The Overture to The Yellow Princess begins with an introduction in rather slow time. There is a theme of foreboding on the woodwinds, and then the violins enter against a running accompaniment with a stately tune which forms the chief part of the introduction. It is the violins again which announce the opening of the main part of the Overture, in quick, merry time. Their first tune is a sprightly and energetic one. It is answered by the woodwinds, and the second main tune, in more sedate mood, is first heard on the clarinet. When it reappears at the end, after a return of the first merry tune, it is the full strength of the orchestra which plays it.
(to 12.45)
