Overture on the opera “Nabucco”

Overture on the opera “Nabucco” by Giuseppe Verdi
Adapted, edited and arranged for 4 C Flutes by Joachim Linckelmann
Flute 1 doubles on Piccolo; includes alternate Alto Flute part for 4th Flute
Includes score and parts

Apart from Mozart and Wagner, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) is the only composer of operas whose works have always been firmly established as part of the international repertoire – from their first performance up to the present day. Naturally, not all of his operas were successful; in his catalog of operas Verdi ranks Nabucco (Nabucodonosor) as his first one (1842). But in fact he had already composed two operas before: “Oberto” (1839) and “Un giorno di Regno” (1849). The latter was a complete failure. However, with Nabucco – and in particular, with the choirs that won him the honorary title of a “papa dei cori” – Verdi succeeded in giving the suppressed Italian people a musical identity in their desire for freedom during the Risorgimento. Verdi's music also was of a political significance at the time, even though this might be difficult to understand today. In particular, the famous choir “Va pensiero sull'sali dorate” became a kind of unofficial national anthem.

Even though the flute quartet as an ensemble form is certainly not subject to supression, the arrangement presented here will be an enrichment of the repertoire. Like no other composer, Giuseppe Verdi knew how to integrate a rich variety of melodies in a concertante way into his overtures, giving the performers maximum fun while playing them. To underline the colorfulness of his music, this arrangement also uses the piccolo. The fourth part is available for both the flute and for an alto flute in G.