The opera LA FORZA DEL DESTINO by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was written in 1862 and premiered in the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre of Saint Petersburg, Russia on November 10 of that same year. Following many performances around the world that included some minor revisions, Verdi made extensive revisions in 1869. That revised version, which premiered at La Scala in Milan on February 27, 1869, included a new overture and has become the standard performance version through today. While the opera is still frequently performed, the 1869 overture is likewise a regular part of the orchestra repertoire, often used as a concert opener. Instrumentation: 1+Picc.2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(1): Hp(2): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).