Favorite Overture? — Page 3

Overtures(in no real order):
Miss Sagion
Mamma Mia!(I wasn't expecting a strong sounding first few notes, then it got grovey)

Opening number:
Les Miserables, I am counting this as an opening because the introduction is short then it goes into "Look Down."
Lion King "Circle of Life."

Overture:
Candide Definitely
Gypsy
A Little Night Music
Nine
Carousel
Follies

First Number:
The Grand Parade (Grand Hotel)
The Story Of Chess (Chess)
The Advantages Of Floating In The Middle Of The Sea (Pacific Overtures)

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I would also say 42nd Street is classic. South Pacific is classic as well. Wicked's may be new but it's still one of my favorites.

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It's wonderful when a great score has a great Overture to match, as with some of the shows that have been mentioned. But when an orchestrator can create a fantastic Overture from lesser material, that's truly an achievement. Robert Ginzler and Sid Ramin, who did the orchestrations for Gypsy, later collaborated on Wildcat. The Wildcat score has its peaks and valleys, but that Overture starts like a house on fire and never lets up. No matter the quality of the show that followed, the Wildcat Overture sounds like it belongs to a hit.

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Phantom Of The Opera and Man Of La Mancha. Of course, if Les Mis had an overture than I'm certain that I would've picked that one to.

I loathed the show but the opening number of Tarzan was so exciting. And then it went downhill from there...

WSS! I forgot WSS! Thanks.

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GYPSY - of course
Sweet Charity
The Little Mermaid