overture

Examples

• All

• Max, come on, the overture's started.

  The Producers (1968)

• If we use Felix Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream Overture," for example, we can follow the whole story of the play through the score.

  Academic text (2015)

• For this one, we're going to use the William Tell Overture theme and it goes like this.

• The overture to "Duel In The Sun."

  Duel in the Sun (1946)

• Then the band came back, played the last-act overture, and cards dropped back in.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Here is the overture to a score of a Mozart opera.

• The story of William Tell takes on an added dimension when students hear Rossini's William Tell Overture.

  Academic text (2005)

• The DJ plays the Rocky theme, the William Tell Overture, and Pearl Jam's "Alive."

  Fiction book (2002)

• A full orchestra begins to play the overture to Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.

  Fiction book (2002)

• The performance opened with a grand overture that captivated the audience immediately.

Synonyms

I

intro

vsoverture

• Informal

56 3.2

A short speech that makes someone known and starts an event

is specifically an orchestral opening for operas and other long musical works

F

fanfare

vsoverture

12 5.3

A short lively tune trumpets play to introduce someone important

is a longer orchestral introduction for operas rather than a brief brass signal

P

prelude

vsoverture

4 6.7

A short piece of music that introduces a larger work like an opera or play

is the orchestral opening for operas and similar extended works

S

sinfonia

vsoverture

• Specialized

9.4

A short orchestral piece that introduces a larger work like an opera

is the orchestral opening used for operas and other long works

Antonyms

F

finale

180 3.6

The last, most exciting part of a show or event

How Long

overture

• Specialized

11 7.7

prelude

4 6.7

fanfare

12 5.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology