Poet and Peasant: overture

Premiere: August 5, 1846, Theater an der Wien

The overture to Poet and Peasant unfolds with majestic brass chords and gentle strings, evoking a pastoral calm. This tranquility soon gives way to a lively Allegro, where Suppé introduces a melody with a folk-like charm. The theme moves through different instrumental groups, spiritedly played by the strings and embellished by the woodwinds. Each musical character seems to alternate like scenes in a comedy, shifting between gravity and lightheartedness. Through this musical narrative, the overture draws the listener into a rural setting and the lively action of the stage.