Shortly before composing Tannhäuser, Richard Wagner observed that an opera overture “should contain the general spirit of action without undue use of the musical means, and lead it towards a solution that corresponds intelligently to that of the drama”. The overture should, therefore, present the general outlines and introduce the whole narrative that follows, as Wagner did with Tannhäuser, exploring from the start the opposing forces inspired by the medieval legend. In this programme, the Gulbenkian Orchestra will perform some of the most iconic overtures in the operatic repertoire, created by five of the most famous composers in the genre’s history.