• Duration: 14'
• Instrumentation: 2222-4230-batt (2esec)-archi
• Year: 1867
• Type: parts, score

''Overture'' is the work of a sixteen year-old composer who in the same year completed his studies at the Musical Institute, receiving the ''Grand Prize''. Referring to the early Romantic style, it is a testament to the composer's excellent craftsmanship, especially in the areas of melody, instrumentation and development techniques. As B. Chmara-Żaczkiewicz writes (PWM Encyclopedia of Music), Antoni Stolpe's music is characterised by youthful fantasy, immense dynamism but also with respect for the classical tradition. He had a feeling for the dramaturgical aspect of musical form, which he constructed in a transparent manner. He used a variety of measures to dynamise the narrative, using variation technique, development and polyphony. He felt, first and foremost, that he was a symphonist. Almost all the Warsaw reviewers recognised his great talent as a composer and pianist. Zygmunt Noskowski said ''total independence and maturity of thought'', Władysław Żeleński called him ''a complete master''. ''To date we did not know, wrote Jan Klenczyński, that within the walls of our city, apart from elder artists, we have such a young talent who already today stands on a par with many and who may surpass them in time. Those who already at such a young age can show such a creative and performing gift as can Mr Stolpe, should be counted as among the chosen few. They should, for from them the Creator and our contemporaries have a right to expect great things.'' After studies in Warsaw with Freyer and Moniuszko, Antoni Stolpe went to Berlin but the recurrence of tuberculosis, which he inherited from his ancestors forced him to return to Warsaw. All treatments in Salzbrunn (now Szczawno Zdrój) and Merano, unfortunately, proved to be ineffective.