Day 340
Kuhlau: Overture to the play William Shakespeare
Royal Danish Orchestra
Johan Hye-Knudsen
Kulhau (not to be confused with the baroque composer Kuhnau) is a name which might possibly be familiar to musicians. He turns as as somebody in the extended Beethoven circle, but he is more likely t have been encounter as a composer of easy piano pieces for youngsters. I certainly played one or two of his sonatas when I was learning the piano.
He wrote several operas but this overture is from dramatic music he wrote for a play on the life of Shakespeare. It dates from 1826. It is a good example of an early romantic overture - the spirit of Beethoven is ever present but there are also hints of Rossini and perhaps Weber. It probably isn’t quite distinctive enough to be regarded as a forgotten masterpiece but is thoroughly enjoyable and well worth hearing. It would be a good concert opener.
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