Operatic Overtures and Preludes to Die For

Anybody who goes to the opera regularly knows that the plots of many great operas end with at least a corpse or two. But a seasoned listener can see the tragedy coming from a mile away—in the overture. With works from Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, and more, this playlist explores the genius of composers who give a taste of their tragic plots right at the beginning.