Overture
1996 Broadway Revival Cast Lyrics
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The city of Vienna is experiencing the largest lightning storm in its long history.
Within a large disheveled room,
Ludwig Von Beethoven is slumped over his piano
And on the piano sits the just completed manuscript for his tenth symphony.
It is his final, and he is certain, his greatest work.]
Since the time when ra and isis
And apollo dreamed athena
And men began to understand
That when darkness folds on darkness
In the restless tides of night
And lightning raises shadows
And for moments gives them life
It's been said by those who ponder
That it surely is a sign
That a life touched by the stars
Is now running out of time
And that somewhere in that darkness
In the heart of that great storm
The world returns a soul
That the gods caused to be born
And this was such a storm
The kind one rarely sees in life
For in a room now filled with shadows
The great Beethoven was spending
His last night
[From the shadows a beautiful spirit, fate,
And her deformed dwarf son, twist,
Emerge to inform Beethoven of what he has already deeply suspected,
That this is to be his last night on earth.
They are accompanied by numerous spirits and ghosts from his past.]
The lyrics to the Overture from the 1996 Broadway Revival Cast's musical are a dramatic interpretation of a historical event that took place in Vienna in 1827, when Ludwig Von Beethoven, a renowned composer and pianist, composed his tenth and final symphony under the eerie backdrop of the largest lightning storm in Vienna's history. The lyrics set the scene of the tumultuous storm, the darkness that enshrouds the city, and the sense of foreboding that permeates throughout. We also see the specter of Fate and her deformed son, Twist, emerge from the shadows and inform Beethoven of his imminent demise, surrounded by spirits and ghosts that evoke memories from his past.
The lyrical imagery is rich, drawing on historical and mythical themes to underscore the urgency and poignancy of Beethoven's last moments. The opening lines evoke the ancient Egyptian Sphinx, and the Greek gods Ra and Isis, Apollo and Athena - figures that have long been associated with the creative arts and the mysteries of the universe. Lightning, a universal symbol of power and unpredictability, is used to dramatic effect, as it illuminates the shadows and conjures up the myriad spirits that haunt Beethoven's mind.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of mortality, and the idea that greatness can sometimes be a hindrance to a long and fulfilling life. The sense of impending doom that underlies the entire song is inescapable, as Beethoven grapples with the knowledge that his time is running out. Fate and Twist, who serve as allegorical representations of destiny and its caprices, reinforce this sense of inevitability, as they speak to Beethoven in hushed tones about the "end that must come."
Overall, the Overture is a beautiful and evocative piece of poetry that uses language to transport the listener to a time and a place that is both frenzied and serene, chaotic and still. It combines historical and mythological elements to create a sense of timelessness and universality that speaks to the human condition in ways that are both haunting and unforgettable.
Line by Line Meaning
On a late night in the spring of 1827
At a time when the flowers began to bloom
The city of Vienna is experiencing the largest lightning storm in its long history.
A great and powerful storm rages over Vienna
Within a large disheveled room,
Inside a space that's messy and unkempt
Ludwig Von Beethoven is slumped over his piano
The great composer leans over his piano
And on the piano sits the just completed manuscript for his tenth symphony.
On the instrument lies the final testament of his art that he's ever penned
It is his final, and he is certain, his greatest work.
He is resolved that this shall be his final and finest creation
From the shadows a beautiful spirit, fate,
Emerging from behind the gloom comes fate, a wondrous being
And her deformed dwarf son, twist,
And accompanying her, twist, an odd and twisted creature
Emerge to inform Beethoven of what he has already deeply suspected,
Their appearance confirms what Beethoven's long known
That this is to be his last night on earth.
That this very night shall be his last on this earth
They are accompanied by numerous spirits and ghosts from his past.
Together they join with many from his past, phantoms and souls
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY HOROWITZ, ROBIN MILLER, LEO ROST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind