Symphonic Prelude (Preludio sinfonico)

Puccini wrote his Symphonic Prelude in 1882 for his final exam of the academic year 1881-1882 at the Milan Conservatory.
This work is a rare example of Puccini’s orchestral writing outside the realm of opera, the genre he is best known for.
Fun fact – in Puccini’s original manuscript, the composer reused several sections of music for future opera productions, including Le villi and Edgar. In revisions, these sections were ultimately removed from the score of the Symphonic Prelude, but it’s interesting to note how this earlier work continued to influence future compositions.¹

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