Giuseppe Verdi

The Sicilian Vespers: Overture

Giuseppe Verdi's opera, The Sicilian Vespers, was completed in 1855, with the premiere taking place on June 13th of that year in Paris. Telling the historical tale of the massacre of the French at the hands of the Sicilians, the subject was strange choice for an Italian composer to the Parisian opera goers, though the French public did appreciate the music. Alternatively, the premiere of the opera in Italy, taking place under a different libretto and title (Giovanna di Guzman) as the Austrian censors did not allow a poem that glorified the revolt of Sicily against opressors, succeeded, though the Italian public did not appreciate to music to the same extent as the French. This arrangement of the overture for Military Band has been completed by Dan Godfrey.