When I was a child, my parents took me to see "Gypsy" at The Imperial with Ethel Merman. The overture was not only electric, it was the best I have ever heard. To this day.
I remember that the trumpet players were visable during the overture -- I guess they were on a riser -- and when they hit those first cords, it shut the audience up totally, which, back then was quite a feat. (People often talked through the overture).
Not Gypsy.
It is the perfect overture, with something from each of the food groups -- comedy, tragedy, dance, pathos... My father said he'd gotten his 6.50 worth and could have left right then.
Then Merman sang "Some People" and we realized the entire show would be a bonus after that overture.
Fabulous.
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699