Favorite Broadway Overtures!- Page 2

[lotiloti]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 5:47am

The Tap Dance Kid overture has always been a favourite of mine

[Pit Monger]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 10:41am

Have to totally agree with:

gypsy

sweet charity

funny girl

chicago

42nd street

also love:

bye bye birdie

annie get your gun (60's Lincoln center)

on your toes (original spialek)

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 10:46am

How did I forget Chicago and Show Boat?! Shame on me...

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 11:15am

On A Clear Day You Can See Forever

High Spirits

Funny Girl

Thoroughly Modern Millie

[TweetyPie2]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 11:22am

What's so great about the Merrily overture? It doesn't really reflect the tone of the show, IMO. It almost sounds as if it belongs to another show. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 11:23am

It's just thrilling.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 5:32pm

All the above plus Li'L ABNER.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 5:37pm

I know it's severely truncated in performance, but I love the Light in the Piazza overture on the recording.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 6:28pm

Porgy & Bess

42nd Street

Pardon My English

High Spirits

Gypsy

South Pacific

Funny Girl

Peter Pan

Merrily We Roll Along (perhaps it doesn't reflect the tone of the show, but on its own it's fabulous)

Hallelujah, Baby

Promises, Promises
Guys & Dolls







Updated On: 12/8/16 at 06:28 PM

[NoName3]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 9:18pm

"The Carousel Waltz is such an unbelievable piece of music. I've always wondered why it didn't transcend into the ranks of classical music, or play as a piece on classical music stations."

The last "classical" radio station in New York, WQXR (there used to be several), occasionally plays The Carousel Waltz, usually from the album of R&H overtures by John Mauceri and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

WQXR very occasionally plays other Broadway music, usually by R&H or Sondheim. Appropriate.

[NoName3]

Posted: 12/7/16 at 9:23pm

The Chicago Overture is the music from the cut song Loopin' the Loop, originally performed by Gwen and Chita in the final scene (I think, open to correction, but the overture is definitely Loopin' the Loop.)

Updated On: 12/7/16 at 09:23 PM

[Cesare2]

Posted: 12/8/16 at 2:29am

Yes, the CHICAGO overture uses the music for the dropped song Loopin' the Loop.  Also, the entr'acte for the current revival was actually the exit music for the original production.  There was no entr'acte in the original.  The original opened the second act with Chita saying "Welcome Back, Suckers."

The overture on the OBC recording of ON A CLEAR DAY combines the original overture (which ends with choral singing of the title tune) with the entr'acte (Melinda etc.).  The first act ends with the song Melinda.

My favorite overture is the one for SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING.
Updated On: 12/8/16 at 02:29 AM

[Marianne2]

Posted: 12/8/16 at 9:36am

Gypsy

Finian's Rainbow 

Promises, promises

 

I know there are more, but my mind is drawing a blank.

[Roland von Berlin]

Posted: 12/8/16 at 1:43pm

Finian's Rainbow is especially interesting because it starts with the first phrases of the VERSE to How Are Things in Glocca Morra, whereas you almost never hear the verse of a song in the overture to anything.

 

Finian's Rainbow's overture also ends oddly, in a kind of fade-out as the curtain goes up, without a big finish. At least, it did so in 1947, in the theatre. The recording used a concert ending, and even Lehman Engel's LP of overtures played a different conclusion.

[bct14972]

Posted: 12/8/16 at 6:32pm

City of Angels' prologue is also thrilling if we can count it as an overture!

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/8/16 at 6:34pm

Nine

Candide

WSS

42nd Street

Mame

La Cage

Mack & Mabel

and Gypsy

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 4:10pm

Oh my gosh, I forgot NINE as well! I listen to that overture constantly. Having the women vocalize it was such a brilliant idea on Tommy Tune's part (I believe it was his suggestion that they do it this way).

La...la la la...la, la la la...

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:24pm

True about ON A CLEAR DAY. odd that they didn't just keep them separate.

[Gabby Hayes]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 5:53pm

The Funny Girl overture is so great and perfect, except for that apparent goof on the xylophone, that is.

[deltatee]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 7:48pm

I love the Light in the Piazza overture as well!

I also thought the Entr'acte for the Pirate Queen was the highlight of the show!

[5377brian]

Posted: 12/9/16 at 7:54pm

I gotta say, I love me some Gypsy.  Those horns through...love it.  They must have a blast playing that...

[Dfgtoronto]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 10:12am

My Fair Lady 

Oklahoma 

South Pacific 

Gypsy 

Man of La Mancha 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 10:18am

"What other overture plays cut music?" 

The FOLLIES prologue is nothing but cut songs: "All Things Bright and Beautiful" and "That Old Piano Roll".

[Dfgtoronto]

Posted: 12/10/16 at 12:15pm

While we're discussing Broadway overtures, I would like to pay tribute to Robert Russell Bennett who arranged many of the overtures that have been mentioned!  At the 2008 LCT production of South Pacific, when the orchestra rose to the level of stage while playing Bennett's original arrangement of the overture, it was thrilling.

[green waver]

Posted: 12/12/16 at 1:14am

I love the Follies prologue- the subsequent overture , not so much. The overture of The Rothschilds imparts a real eighteenth century feel for the show,as well as being quite stirring. Listen to it!