Camille Saint-Saëns

Andromaque: Overture

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) composed the Overture to Andromaque in 1902 as the prelude to his incidental music for Jean Racine's celebrated 1667 tragedy, written at the request of the legendary French actress Sarah Bernhardt for her new production at the Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt in Paris. Drawing upon Racine's retelling of the aftermath of the Trojan War, the overture focuses less on outward action than on the psychological turmoil of its principal characters, particularly Hermione's unrequited love and consuming jealousy, through a richly expressive orchestral language that blends Classical restraint with late Romantic color. The complete incidental music received its premiere on February 7, 1903, performed by the Orchestre Colonne during Bernhardt's production of the play, and the overture was dedicated to the actress herself. Although the stage music is seldom heard in its entirety today, Andromaque: Overture has endured as an impressive standalone concert work, admired for its noble architecture and eloquent orchestration, and it remains an attractive rediscovery within Saint-Saëns's orchestral output. Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).2.2.2: 2.2.3.0: Timp.Perc(1): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). Reprint edition.