THE STORY BEHIND: von Suppé's Overture to "Light Cavalry"

On June 3, conductor Leonard Slatkin and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will present the 2023 Annual Gala Concert with soprano Renée Fleming. 

THE STORY BEHIND: von Suppé's Overture to Light Cavalry

Title: Leichte Kavallerie: Overture
Composer: Franz von Suppé (1819-1895)
Last time performed by the Rhode Island Philharmonic: This is a RI Philharmonic Orchestra premiere. This piece is scored for piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, percussion and strings.

The Story: Franz von Suppé was born in what is now Split, Croatia. From an early age, local musicians encouraged his great interest in music. As a teenager, he studied harmony and the flute. One of his earliest compositions was a Roman Catholic mass, which received its first complete hearing at a Franciscan church in 1835. Beginning in 1840, he worked as a composer and conductor in a group of theaters located in various Austrian cities. Thus, his lifelong occupation as a theater composer began, and his reputation spread through Austria and other countries as well.
       
Von Suppé composed around 30 operettas (European musical comedies) and 180 ballets and other stage works. Two of his overtures have had lasting popularity: Poet and Peasant (1846) and Light Cavalry (1866). They are part of the regular orchestral repertoire for American “pops” concerts. In addition, excerpts from these have been adapted to movie cartoons, notably some featuring Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse. Also, the Light Cavalry Overture has been recorded using an electronic synthesizer (Gordon Langford, 1974).
       
The operetta Light Cavalry takes its name from the age-old practice of troops bearing lightweight types (and amounts) of weapons and riding relatively small but very fast-galloping horses. The overture begins with a massive, bold fanfare for the orchestra’s brass section. This introduction leads to a further unfolding of the main theme, based on the fanfare. A fast theme in the strings balances the fanfare. Now, the most famous theme, portraying the light cavalry horses quickly prancing. Following a dynamic climax, we hear another a catchy melody, a transition to a more lyrical tune, full of theatrical charm. A solo clarinet introduces a broad, theatrical (quasi-gypsy) aria played by the string section (in unison). Again comes the Light Cavalry prancing. Gradually, the music builds in volume and intensity as it calls for an applause-getting ending.

Program Notes by Dr. Michael Fink © 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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