Q: What’s the definition of musical snobbery?
A: Hearing the “William Tell Overture” without thinking of the Lone Ranger.

This is one of those pieces that everybody just knows. You can’t avoid it – it’s in cartoons, commercials, video games. Gioachino Rossini knows how to write ’em; everything is clear and easy to follow – no tricks or games. It begins with a gentle melody that blows up about 2:45.

And go ahead … think of the Lone Ranger, and ride a pretend horse around your house, the office, or even around town. If anybody turns up their nose at you, just “neigh” at them and move on.

listen to this amazing overture to Richard Wagner’s opera Parsifal.

It has nothing to do with winter or snow, but it’s such a great piece, and perfect for watching the weather and contemplating your existence. No other composer can successfully write music that has essentially one chord for five minutes, and then twist you around an amazingly complex harmonic progression that rips your heart right out of your chest. And the horns … so many horns … no, not horns on a Viking helmet, I’m talking about the instrument he invented, the Wagner tuba.

At least, so says Rosina, the heroine from Rossini‘s opera, The Barber of Seville.

In Rosina’s well loved solo, she presents herself as coy and sweet, but wickedly clever. She sings “A thousand tricks I play until I have my way; be on your guard.” Then, working with her lover, she proceeds to make an idiot out of a cruel, elderly suitor. Don’t let the gorgeous bel canto singing fool you – and definitely don’t play games with this woman!