Rienzi in April/May 2009 and at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Oper Leipzig in April/May 2010. In July 2013, the bicentennial year of Wagner's birth, performances of all three of Wagner's early operas, including "Rienzi", took place for the first time at Bayreuth, at the Oberfrankenhalle. This performance trimmed some parts, including the second-act ballet. The Australian premiere was a concert performance by Melbourne Opera in December 2013, as part of the bicentennial celebrations. The opera opens with a substantial overture which begins with a trumpet call (which in act 3 we learn is the war call of the Colonna family)
1812 Overture The piece is featured prominently in the film "V for Vendetta". The melody of Dan Fogelberg's top ten hit "Same Old Lang Syne" is drawn from the distinctive leitmotif that represents the Russian forces in the piece. In "", the RYNO V weapon plays the "1812" Overture while firing. In "", part of the overture's finale plays when the Claptrap character enters Pirate Ship Mode. Bond the four-girl 'crossover' string quartet produced a truncated rock version of the Overture at their concert in the Albert Hall in London. 1812 Overture The Year 1812 Solemn Overture, festival overture in E major,