Wait for it …
No matter who you are, you’ve probably heard Gioachino Rossini‘s before, largely because of Looney Tunes. There’s nothing wrong with that. His music is so energizing and playful – perfect stuff for watching the Road Runner outwit Wile E. Coyote and by extension, the Acme corporation. More than that, he doesn’t play any musical guessing-games with his audience. When there’s a melody, you hear it. When it gets faster, you know. No special knowledge required.
This is the overture to his opera “La Cenerentola” – Cinderella.
So why is this post titled “Wait for it …”? The first two minutes of the overture is “sit down and shut up” music. Some quiet notes, a couple big chords, some noodling around, some weird harmonic progressions. Stuff to pass the time as opera patrons rush to their seats before the real action begins. (I’m actually convinced that at 2:09, Rossini was actually setting the words “sit down, shut up, sit down, shut up” to orchestral music.)
So if you get bored or lost early on … wait for it. Things start to get going around 2:15.
Great music, astute commentary. And I’m intrigued by the painting in the YouTube clip. Anybody know the artist? Also waiting for some of my fellow listeners to chime in. I’m getting a little self-conscious with how much my name is appearing in the Recent Comments list, as if I’m trying to show off, or hog the space. But not enough to back off!
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Ne: the painting. No idea!
Thanks for reassurance. Will have to check Twitter. That’ll get me a bit more up to speed with that service, which I’ve had for years, but never paid much attention to.
Have since found out at least nationality of artist: Netherlands.