I cannot recall the last time I attended a classical music concert which opened with an overture. The very first piece I ever heard in a concert hall, though, was Rossini's overture to La Gazza Ladra--followed by Brahms First Symphony. (Guido Catelli conducting.) It seems to me that this used to be a typical, though not unvaried, way of opening a concert program, the rationale being, I assume, (1) to warm up the orchestra and, more importantly, (2) to take care of the latecomer problem with the conductor offstage. In Milwaukee I rarely see latecomers, but In Symphony Hall, Boston during the 1980s, I recall the conductor, the orchestra and the bulk of the audience frequently waiting at length, in some irritation, following the first movement of a longer work, while the dilatory found their seats. What I am wondering is: how widespread was the practice of opening with an overture, symphonic poem or other short work; when did this start; and when did it fade out, as it seems to have? And do any orchestras still allow latecomers to bring things to a halt? Does anyone know or have observations to share? Jim Tobin