Schubert - Overture in D Major, D. 556

Schubert wrote his Overture in D major D. 556 in May 1817. It is scored for woodwind, horns, timpani and strings, but, unusually, without trumpets, the usual companions of drums. It opens with an Allegro maestoso leading to an Andante sostenuto, which returns after the Allegro vivace which provides the substance of the work that has the necessary theatrical quality to serve as the introduction to a play. This performance by the Prague Sinfonia, conducted by Christian Benda.