Overture to the operetta Die schöne Galathée

Program notes

About the Work

The overture to Die schöne Galathée (‘The Beautiful Galatea’) is one of Franz von Suppè’s most delightful curtain-raisers. The one-act operetta, premiered in Berlin in 1865, retells the ancient myth of Pygmalion, the sculptor who falls in love with his own statue, which Venus brings to life. Here it becomes a sparkling comedy, for the animated Galatea proves fickle and headstrong rather than the ideal he dreamed of. As with so many of Suppè’s stage works, the operetta itself is now rarely performed, but its overture has taken on an independent life, prized for its irresistible blend of lyrical warmth and theatrical brilliance. It is a model of the form: an arresting opening, songful lyrical episodes, and a whirling, accelerating finish guaranteed to bring the house down. Its appearance at the New Year’s Concert widens the morning beyond the Strauss family to embrace the broader world of Viennese light music.

What to Listen For

Suppè’s overture unfolds as a sequence of vivid contrasts. Listen for the bold, attention-grabbing opening; a tender, song-like central melody of real beauty; and the gradual acceleration into a brilliant, headlong final section. The orchestration is colourful and theatrical, with prominent solos for cello and woodwinds amid the festive tutti, a compact drama in sound that builds inexorably to its exhilarating close.