Relayed from the National Museum of Wales
National Orchestra of Wales
(Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Cymru)
In Euripides' play, it will be remembered, Alceste was the Queen of King Admetus, who offered herself as a sacrifice to save the life of her consort, condemned to die; Apollo, remembering the King's virtues, rescued her, and restored her safely to her royal husband.
A libretto in Italian was made for Gluck from the old Greek play, by Calzabigi, and Gluck's operatic treatment of it was so successful as to be hailed at once by contemporary opinion as 'a wonder work' and as a masterpiece which would be so regarded not only by musicians, but by posterity for all time.
In the preface, in which Gluck dedicates the work to his patron, the Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Toscana, he gives his views on dramatic music, explaining that the Overture should prepare the hearer for the character of the action, and give him some idea of the course of the drama.
This Overture does indeed foreshadow the tragic part of the tale. It begins with an impressive main theme, in which massive fortissimos for the whole orchestra are answered by string phrases, played softly. This leads to a climax, and that in turn introduces a second subject, which is first presented by the winds and strings in dialogue. Soon another very vigorous theme makes its appearance, with the whole orchestral force engaged in it, and on these three elements the Overture is built up. When given in front of the opera, it has no actual close, but leads straight into the first scene; Weingartner has added a close so that the Overture may be played separately as a concert piece. He develops the existing material somewhat further and brings the piece to an end with soft, mysterious chords played by the whole orchestra.
(to 14.00)
