Rob Roy Overture, H. 54 – Hector Berlioz

Rob Roy Overture, H. 54 by Hector Berlioz

Berlioz completed this overture in 1831, with the premiere performance taking place in April of 1833 at the Paris Conservatoire. The work is based on the novel ‘Rob Roy’ by Sir Walter Scott.

‘Rob Roy’ is a historical drama focusing on the events shortly before and during the Jacobite Rising of 1715. The story itself centres around the fictional character of Frank Osbaldistone, the son of an English merchant who is forced to move to Scotland after a family quarrel. While there, Frank meets the historical figure of Robert Roy MacGregor (Rob Roy), a Scottish cattleman who would eventually become an outlaw supporting the Jacobian effort to restore the senior line of the Stuart monarchy.

While Berlioz would hold the novel ‘Rob Roy in high regard, he would later say of this overture that it was “long and diffuse”, and would withdraw the work after the premiere. Some elements of the overture would be reused in other works.

This overture is comprised of a single movement.