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- Kuhlau, Friedrich
Duration: 9 minutes
Description: ELVERHØJ OVERTURE, Op. 100 by Friedrich Kuhlau (1786–1832) was composed in 1828 as the opening orchestral gesture to the Danish singspiel ELVERHØJ (THE ELVES’ HILL), written by Johan Ludvig Heiberg for the wedding festivities of Princess Vilhelm Marie of Denmark. The premiere took place on November 6, 1828 at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, and instantly helped elevate the production to the status of a national landmark in Danish culture. Drawing on Danish and Swedish folk melodies as well as the royal anthem “Kong Christian stod ved højen mast,” the overture blends national-romantic character with orchestral polish and narrative energy. Though the full theatrical work is rarely staged internationally today, the overture lives on as an engaging concert-piece and is valued for its melodic charm, folkloric roots, and its role in Denmark’s musical-cultural heritage. Instrumentation: 2+Picc.2.2.2: 4.2.1.0: Timp.Perc(2-3): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). Reprint edition.