Adolphe Adam - Overture 'Si j'étais Roi' (1852)

Adolphe Charles Adam (24 July 1803 – 3 May 1856) was a French composer and music critic. A prolific composer of operas and ballets, he is best known today for his ballets Giselle (1841) and Le corsaire (1856, his last work), his operas Le postillon de Lonjumeau (1836), Le toréador (1849) and Si j'étais roi (1852) and his Christmas carol Minuit, chrétiens! (1844), later set to different English lyrics and widely sung as "O Holy Night" (1847). Adam was a noted teacher, who taught Delibes and other influential composers.

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Overture "Si j'étais Roi" (1852)

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier

Si j'étais roi (English: If I Were King) is an opéra-comique in three acts by Adolphe Adam. The libretto was written by Adolphe d'Ennery and Jules-Henri Brésil. It was first performed in Paris at the Théâtre Lyrique (Théâtre-Historique, Boulevard du Temple) on 4 September 1852, opening with a dual cast to allow performance on successive evenings (it made up half of all performances at the Théâtre Lyrique in the last four months of the year and reached over 170 performances in its first ten years). The production was considered lavish, with expensive costumes and jewels being worn by the cast.

It was then staged in Brussels (1853), New Orleans (1856), Turin (1858) and Soerabaya (1864).

Though less popular than Le postillon de Lonjumeau, it is often regarded as Adam's finest work. The well-developed overture was once very popular, particularly on recordings. Vocal highlights include the soprano air "De vos nobles aïeux" and the couplets for baritone "Dans le sommeil, l'amour".

[Mezzotenor]

My first hearing of this piece, and I'm charmed. Many thanks for making me a new friend!

[cminor]

All I can say is thank you! Always so good!

[tommilano]

This overture should get more recognition.

[williamdeng]

Thanks for Bartmans’ musical score which let us studying this piece of music closely.

[delroyroberts]

Another masterfully composed overture.

[AndreyRubtsovRU]

What a nice piece! Why is it not more popular?

[dooglassdorenal]

Isn't there a Eb in the chord at 2:43 in the clarinet part?

[jamesnixon]

Adolphe Charles Adam (Sunday 24 July 1803 - Saturday 3 May 1856).

[webrarian]

Pity the poor harpist. All that work and most of it drowned out by the rest the orchestra. I can only assume that Adam expected a much smaller number of strings and quieter brass.

[ericmarguet]

Debussy disait d Adolphe Adam «  le nom du premier homme sur terre et du dernier des musiciens »...ce qui n est pas très aimable ; il n en reste pas moins que son œuvre, plaisante à l écoute et très appréciée en son temps, n est pas restée à la postérité si ce n est le celebrissime « minuit chrétiens « connu mondialement

[LudsenMartinus]

The beginin is similar in the harmony with de 1812's end

[robcat]

He must have had a lot of Rossini CDs at home.

[rogerdavid]

Lembra "von Suppé", "Donizetti" e "Ferdnand Hérold".

[kaibibi]

the second half sounds a lot like semiramide overture

[rafaelhenrique]

Si j'étais Roi, ou seja, essa música é de Mario Jr do TikTok sorry;-;

[DSR]

Thank you for the score. (The piece is played too fast for my taste - just saying.)

[endo]

I find this firework consisting of aggressive brass erruptions, uncomplete scales and constant klinking rather annoying. Not my cup of tea.