The Marriage of Figaro — Overture

W. A. MozartK. 492

Key

D

Time

C|

Tempo

♩=152

AO focus

AO3

Form

Overture — 'Presto' in D major. Sonata-form-without-development, just exposition + recapitulation. The opening, sotto voce strings, sets up a long crescendo; the whole orchestra crashes in for the second theme.

Teaching points

• Sotto voce opening — the entire string section plays at whisper-quiet dynamic for 16 bars before the full orchestra enters
• Sonata form without a development — Mozart compresses the form because the comic-opera plot can't wait
• AO3: how does Mozart create dramatic tension with quiet music? (Crescendo planning, harmonic suspense)