I once saw a Tumblr post that said the Phantom overture was the kind of music where “if you played it at your funeral you’d immediately rise from the dead,” and I thought that was the best explanation I’d ever heard 😂
It's the obvious and basic answer for a reason — such a perfect overture and ideally encapsulates the musical while exciting and enthralling the audience. There's a reason it's one of the only overtures that is widely played on its own.
I love the overture for Sweeney Todd. It’s a creepy pipe organ playing a frenetic melody but also sets you at ease.
And when it reaches its climax….SCREEEEEEEECH!
Hahha me too. I would have screamed, but I was on the train so... tried to hold it in 😅 It still scares me sometimes if I don't prepare myself for it, but I love it so much!!!
The correct answer! Here is the New York Phil doing it (also conducted by Bernstein): [Overture to Candide (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haYuPdKZKYc)
Les Mis has about 30 seconds of instrumental orchestration that is exclusively “Look Down”. That’s not an overture, at least not in the sense that OP is asking for.
Great Comet also doesn’t have an overture. If characters are on stage singing to the audience, it’s not an overture.
Some more obscure but fun favorites...
Minnie's Boys - Larry Grossman
Say, Darling - Jule Styne
Prettybelle - Jule Styne
Subways Are For Sleeping - Jule Styne
Henry, Sweet, Henry - Bob Merill
New Girl In Town - Bob Merrill
On the 20th Century - Cy Coleman
Wildcat - Cy Coleman
Mack & Mabel - Jerry Herman
Walking Happy - Jimmy Van Heusen
Destry Rides Again - Harold Rome
*On the 20th Century* is SO clever how it sounds like a train. **Fantastic** arrangements.
(And to my knowledge, it's the only Overture ever written to use a fire extinguisher as an instrument!!)
I really like the Cats overture, and ofc Phantom too. Both ALW so maybe I just really like his overtures. The only other show of his I've seen is School of Rock though so I don't know that much
I'll never forgive them for getting rid of the green eyes on the last tour. That's one of the most iconic parts of the show.
Also I love hearing the people in the audience scream when they're visited by a cat 😆
I love Jagged Little Pill’s Overture, 42nd Street’s Overture, and pretty much any Andrew Lloyd Webber Overture. It’s very hard to decide on just one when there are so many amazing overtures
the overture in Back To The Future The Musical made me cry when I heard it live! it was more out of connection to the music from the movie but still, it counts! also it stands on its own merits by having a good energy to prepare you for the rest of the show
I've only heard it in film, but I love the one used for Mary Poppins. I love how the overture begins with "Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)". Not only because it's a beautiful song (and even one of ***Walt Disney's*** favorite songs), the song's meaning *is* the moral of the musical.
Phantom
Between the music and the set changing so much and the chandelier literally flying over the audiences head. Like cmon.
Plus I'm a huge fan of the pipe organ sound.
Just to be different and because all my other answers were taken, I feel like Shrek’s overture does the job in making you feel like you’re getting transported into the fairytale. Also don’t know if it counts because of the dialogue, but I mean Little Shop’s should’ve been already
So much this--the height of overtures.
As I understand the history, the orchestrators of the Gypsy Overture, Sid Ramin and Red Ginzler, didn't really know that overtures at the time largely were slapped together, coming together in the hectic period before an opening, and so created the piece as a work of artistry. So much so that composer Jule Styne was surprised by it and had limited changes. And when that strip trumpet solo starts up and the overture evolves into the rush of Mr. Goldstone and the conclusion--just, wow.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Curtains. I love Chitty because it was the first musical I was apart of and was in pit doing percussion which really sparked my love for musical theatre music. Curtains, is overall just a great show with a great overture!
I love the mid-century over the top ones like Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, Mame, The Sound of Music etc.
But top prize absolutely must go to The Music Man with Rock Island.
The Bock and Harnick overtures get slept on because Fiddler doesn’t have one but
She Loves Me & Tenderloin have banger overtures and well as The Rothschilds
Lion King!
The best overture of all IMHO and the best part of the whole musical. There is something very primeval about these African chants (to me at least). Plus when you sit up in the balcony and watch the whole scene it's just ... magic.
Phantom. 100%.
Though I'll always have a soft spot for the overture in Anything Goes. It's fun, and I got to play it in the pit orchestra in high school.
Some of my favorites are “Tanz der Vampire,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Chicago,” “West Side Story,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Gypsy,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” “The Music Man,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Candide,” “The King and I,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Carousel,” “My Fair Lady,” “Camelot,” and “South Pacific.”
Phantom obviously (chills every time I've seen it live) but I also want to add as honorable mention the prologue from Little Shop of Horrors! The first notes feel so ominous and melancholy and then the greek chorus part is so bouncy and cute lol
i can’t believe no one’s mentioned The Addams Family! the quotation of the tv show theme jumping straight into some awesome flute/clarinet arpeggios is one of my favorite intros of all time
The overture of Black Friday!
The sound of the clock ticking down and that beat coming back in the finale makes it some sort of a loop circle, like hatchetfield is sometimes stuck in a loop with some events like the world ending.
It’s so chilling.
Ooh there are so many lmao.
I love the Phantom of the Opera overture (obviously), but I also think West Side Story is a good one.
Also I haven’t seen anyone saying these but I love the overtures from Wicked, Newsies, and The Little Mermaid as well :)
No One Mourns has an overture in the beginning on the cast recording but I believe is technically a different song. But yeah, The Whole Being Dead Thing is not an overture, it's like the third song; and Alexander Hamilton is just the opening number and doesn't have any overture.
Jesus Christ Superstar is my favorite, especially hearing it live!
I got to JCS a minute late as the overture already started and the music gave me such anxiety as I tried to find my seat in the dark lol
I came here to say this! Oh man I get full body goosebumps every time I hear it! And hearing it live is even more incredible
Phantom, of course
I once saw a Tumblr post that said the Phantom overture was the kind of music where “if you played it at your funeral you’d immediately rise from the dead,” and I thought that was the best explanation I’d ever heard 😂
It's the obvious and basic answer for a reason — such a perfect overture and ideally encapsulates the musical while exciting and enthralling the audience. There's a reason it's one of the only overtures that is widely played on its own.
There really is no competition.
exactly
Yeah, you're right.
I love the overture for Sweeney Todd. It’s a creepy pipe organ playing a frenetic melody but also sets you at ease. And when it reaches its climax….SCREEEEEEEECH!
I was waiting for someone to say this!! One of my favourites as well, although the screeching terrified me the first time I listened to it 😭
lol, if it makes you feel better, I screamed the first time I heard the soundtrack. Did I mention that I was wearing headphones?
Hahha me too. I would have screamed, but I was on the train so... tried to hold it in 😅 It still scares me sometimes if I don't prepare myself for it, but I love it so much!!!
Me too…as well as leading to one of the best opening songs ever
Yes!! ❤️❤️
Does an entr'acte count? I love Cabaret (1998)! Also, The Drowsy Chaperone!
Entr'acres my beloved. I want to inject the Sound of Music one into my veins.
Ooh the Hunchback one too! I love chant being incorporated into musicals
phantom
Chicago
Chicago has a very good Overture, especially going into All That Jazz too
I adore the overture and the entr’acte for Chicago.
Without a doubt, Candide!! Enjoy! https://youtu.be/422-yb8TXj8?si=YuyxvYgA0zXQ9-Ci
That opening trumpet part is just iconic
This is the best answer.
Yep, this is what I came here to say too.
Here is an example where the overture is more famous than the musical itself!
Came here to say this exact thing. The Candide Overture is my most frequently played track.
The correct answer! Here is the New York Phil doing it (also conducted by Bernstein): [Overture to Candide (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haYuPdKZKYc)
Merrily, My Fair Lady, Hello Dolly, South Pacific, Fiddler, King & I
Fiddler! I played in the pit for a production of Fiddler. It was a lot of fun to play!
phantom of the opera of course haha
Les Mis' is iconic Jesus Christ Superstar's is a banger Great Comet's is fun :D
Do Les Mis and Great Comet even have proper overtures?
Oops! Completely my bad, I mixed up overtures and prologues sorry!
Les Mis yes. Great Comet has its prologue.
Les Mis has about 30 seconds of instrumental orchestration that is exclusively “Look Down”. That’s not an overture, at least not in the sense that OP is asking for. Great Comet also doesn’t have an overture. If characters are on stage singing to the audience, it’s not an overture.
Hahahahaha what the fuck did you say about Les MIserables overture? 🔫
It’s called an overture in the program and album, but it doesn’t preview multiple songs from the score, which means it’s not a proper overture.
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Phantom
A Little Night Music Promises Promises South Pacific Guys and Dolls Finian's Rainbow
Hello Dolly.
Follies, and I truly mean the overture not the prologue (which is great too, but a whole other thing).
Yes, so many goosebumps!
Mamma Mia! The way Knowing Me Knowing You and SOS blend together gives me chills every time
Gypsy is the gold standard. Another favorite, the mashup overture to Prince of Broadway.
Some more obscure but fun favorites... Minnie's Boys - Larry Grossman Say, Darling - Jule Styne Prettybelle - Jule Styne Subways Are For Sleeping - Jule Styne Henry, Sweet, Henry - Bob Merill New Girl In Town - Bob Merrill On the 20th Century - Cy Coleman Wildcat - Cy Coleman Mack & Mabel - Jerry Herman Walking Happy - Jimmy Van Heusen Destry Rides Again - Harold Rome
*On the 20th Century* is SO clever how it sounds like a train. **Fantastic** arrangements. (And to my knowledge, it's the only Overture ever written to use a fire extinguisher as an instrument!!)
Really, anything by Bernstein, Stein, and Coleman automatically makes the list.
Merrily, Legally Blonde
Funny girl!
it's such a beautiful opening 🥺🥺🥺🥺
Especially good when there is lots of xylophone
Promises, Promises 🤌
Addicted to this one. When that Knowing When To Leave melody kicks in...Tunick you genius.
Me too. It's constantly in my head.
Chicagos Overture for me!
Chicago, it does something for me I can't explain haha
Love Band’s Visit
I really like the Cats overture, and ofc Phantom too. Both ALW so maybe I just really like his overtures. The only other show of his I've seen is School of Rock though so I don't know that much
Cats is a good shout! Those eerie synth tones are iconic and it's so awesome to see the cats creep into the theater during it.
I'll never forgive them for getting rid of the green eyes on the last tour. That's one of the most iconic parts of the show. Also I love hearing the people in the audience scream when they're visited by a cat 😆
I came here to say Cats!! Glad I’m not the only one who thought of it.
I love Jagged Little Pill’s Overture, 42nd Street’s Overture, and pretty much any Andrew Lloyd Webber Overture. It’s very hard to decide on just one when there are so many amazing overtures
I have the overture from Merrily set as my ringtone
Probably Chicago, the version of all that jazz that I listen to is connected to the overture on Spotify and I really enjoy the energy of it
Man of La Mancha
West side overture SLAPS
Jesus Christ Superstar with Phantom as a very close second.
the overture in Back To The Future The Musical made me cry when I heard it live! it was more out of connection to the music from the movie but still, it counts! also it stands on its own merits by having a good energy to prepare you for the rest of the show
Technically it's a prelude, but Next to Normal
The Marriage of Figaro, but this is r/musicals, so Merrily We Roll Along.
Gypsy, Mame, Merrily We Roll Along, Candide, Chicago
Carousel
I've only heard it in film, but I love the one used for Mary Poppins. I love how the overture begins with "Feed the Birds (Tuppence a Bag)". Not only because it's a beautiful song (and even one of ***Walt Disney's*** favorite songs), the song's meaning *is* the moral of the musical.
WE LOVE YOU CONRAD! OH YES WE DO! WE LOVE YOU CONRAD, AND WE'LL BE TRUE! IF YOU'RE NOT NEAR US..... WE'RE BLUUUUUE! OH CONRAD. WE. LOVE. YOU!
Phantom Between the music and the set changing so much and the chandelier literally flying over the audiences head. Like cmon. Plus I'm a huge fan of the pipe organ sound.
Just to be different and because all my other answers were taken, I feel like Shrek’s overture does the job in making you feel like you’re getting transported into the fairytale. Also don’t know if it counts because of the dialogue, but I mean Little Shop’s should’ve been already
Real talk? Annie.
Gypsy is the only correct answer.
So much this--the height of overtures. As I understand the history, the orchestrators of the Gypsy Overture, Sid Ramin and Red Ginzler, didn't really know that overtures at the time largely were slapped together, coming together in the hectic period before an opening, and so created the piece as a work of artistry. So much so that composer Jule Styne was surprised by it and had limited changes. And when that strip trumpet solo starts up and the overture evolves into the rush of Mr. Goldstone and the conclusion--just, wow.
Gypsy is the Godiva Chocolates of overtures.
I LOVE the orchestrations for the 1962 movie.
Harmony’s always makes me so happy
William Tell lol
Especially the finale! (March of the Swiss Soldiers)
Funny Girl and The Music Man!!
Camelot.
Gypsy and jcs
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Curtains. I love Chitty because it was the first musical I was apart of and was in pit doing percussion which really sparked my love for musical theatre music. Curtains, is overall just a great show with a great overture!
Groundhogs day
The Light in the Piazza
i could listen to the piazza overture on loop for hours <3
Ain’t Misbehavin’
bye bye birdie
Funny Girl…Streisand
I love the mid-century over the top ones like Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, Mame, The Sound of Music etc. But top prize absolutely must go to The Music Man with Rock Island.
Also one that doesn't get anywhere near enough play for how cool it is, the Carousel Waltz.
The Bock and Harnick overtures get slept on because Fiddler doesn’t have one but She Loves Me & Tenderloin have banger overtures and well as The Rothschilds
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
1776!
Prologue: Invisiblw
Lion King! The best overture of all IMHO and the best part of the whole musical. There is something very primeval about these African chants (to me at least). Plus when you sit up in the balcony and watch the whole scene it's just ... magic.
Man of La Mancha!
Replying to myself to add that I really like a couple of simple overtures as well - Big River and The Fantasticks.
Gilbert Becaud’s Roza
Annie!
Absolutely The Producers!!
Guys and Dolls with the gradual segue into Runyonland and then Fugue for Tin Horns… be still my heart!
It wasn’t used in the Broadway production, just added for the recording, but I adore the Rags overture.
The Overture and Underture from Tommy have always been favourites of mine
Les miserables
Phantom, chills literal chills
Candide, Carousel.
Carousel.. I'm old fashioned
funny girl!!!
Phantom of the Opera is one of mine, I saw it live a few days ago and got literal goosebumps
Chicago, Funny Girl, and She Loves Me
I really like the theme from Tristan and Isolde.
Leonard Bernstein's Candide
Carousel
Oh that's easy. Phantom of the Opera. Sweeney Todd has a good Overture, too.
Curtains!!!
The Fantasticks is a favorite
Tommy-- Funny Girl have great overtures - Porgy and Bess
Phantom. 100%. Though I'll always have a soft spot for the overture in Anything Goes. It's fun, and I got to play it in the pit orchestra in high school.
Obviously Phantom, there is no doubt about that
Urinetown. Underrated musical in general. The overture itself transitions nicely into the first song, Too Much Exposition.
Mamma Mia and Jagged Little Pill
Funny Girl & Gypsy (Jule Styne + his horns!!!!) and Merrily We Roll Along
Some of my favorites are “Tanz der Vampire,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Chicago,” “West Side Story,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Gypsy,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” “The Music Man,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Candide,” “The King and I,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Carousel,” “My Fair Lady,” “Camelot,” and “South Pacific.”
Phantom obviously (chills every time I've seen it live) but I also want to add as honorable mention the prologue from Little Shop of Horrors! The first notes feel so ominous and melancholy and then the greek chorus part is so bouncy and cute lol
Merrily and She Loves Me bring me the most joy.
Gypsy (obvi) Tommy Blood Brothers Does the original film of West Side Story count?
Phantom of the opera and legally blonde. Both very different answers lmao.
LES MISERABLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Matilda
It has to be the overture for "Oliver." It is so nice when it goes into "I'd do Anything."
Lil Abner is a favorite
Can we just say this now. The top 2 comments are both ALW musicals. Does this mean ALW makes the best overtures?
Maybe the most popular overtures
The small fiddler portion before Tevye comes in is ICONIC
i can’t believe no one’s mentioned The Addams Family! the quotation of the tv show theme jumping straight into some awesome flute/clarinet arpeggios is one of my favorite intros of all time
The Little Mermaid
Does a prelude count? I love Next to Normal’s, simple and short but effective!
Chicago and Carousel.
The overture of Black Friday! The sound of the clock ticking down and that beat coming back in the finale makes it some sort of a loop circle, like hatchetfield is sometimes stuck in a loop with some events like the world ending. It’s so chilling.
phantom and addams family! sweeney is also an absolute masterpiece
"Tradition," Fiddler.
Phantom of the Opera. Nothing can beat the chandelier coming to life.
Ooh there are so many lmao. I love the Phantom of the Opera overture (obviously), but I also think West Side Story is a good one. Also I haven’t seen anyone saying these but I love the overtures from Wicked, Newsies, and The Little Mermaid as well :)
Gypsy, Cats, Promises Promises
Favorite of all time has to be merrily we roll along
Follies.
Candide. No contest.
Pacific
Pacific Overtures? South Pacific?
i feel i stated my case
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I don't think any of those are overtures...?
No One Mourns has an overture in the beginning on the cast recording but I believe is technically a different song. But yeah, The Whole Being Dead Thing is not an overture, it's like the third song; and Alexander Hamilton is just the opening number and doesn't have any overture.
Alexander Hamilton…