Antonín Dvořák

Carnival Overture (Op. 92/B. 169)

Written in 1891 as Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904) was considering Jeannette Thurber's generous offer to move to the United States and serve as director of her National Conservatory of Music in New York, Carnival is the second work in a triptych of concert overtures meant to offer impressions of what the human soul may experience. Originally titled Nature, Life, and Love, Dvorák decided to publish each with a more distinct identity: Nature's Realm, Op. 91 for nature, Carnival, Op. 92 for life, and Othello, Op. 93 for love. Carnival does depict the tumult of a festive carnival setting, full of barkers, vendors, boisterous crowds and, according to the composer about a more gentle passage, "a pair of straying lovers." Johannes Brahms noted in a letter to Dvorák's publisher that the work was "merry" and remarked that, "music directors will be thankful to you" for publishing the overtures. The work premiered on April 28th, 1892, by the Orchestra of the National Theatre in Prague, Dvorák conducting.

Instrumentation: 2+Picc.2+EH.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(3): Hp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).