Fidelio

Fidelio is the only opera written by the famous German composer Ludwig van Beethoven. It tells the exciting story of a woman named Leonore who disguises herself as a prison guard called "Fidelio" to save her husband, Florestan, from being hurt in a political prison. The opera was first performed in Vienna on November 20, 1805, but it went through some changes before it reached its final form. By 1814, the story was shortened and improved, and it was performed again on May 23, 1814.

The story of Fidelio matches Beethoven’s love for tales about bravery, love, and fighting for what is right. It also reflects the big ideas of freedom and fairness that were important in Europe at that time. Some of the most remembered parts of the opera include a song about freedom sung by other prisoners, a moment when Florestan sees his wife as an angel coming to help him, and the thrilling scene when Leonore saves him. The ending of the opera celebrates Leonore’s courage with beautiful music from both the singers and the chorus.

Backdrop

Fidelio was Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera. It was part of a popular tradition in Beethoven's time called "rescue operas." These stories often included danger and bravery, ending happily because of a hero's courage.

Beethoven liked this kind of story better than the lighter tales that had inspired other composers like Mozart. Fidelio shares its ideas and music with earlier French operas, such as works by Luigi Cherubini, Pierre Gaveaux, and Ferdinando Paer. Beethoven heard these operas in Vienna and was excited to join this new style of storytelling through music.

Composition and 19th century performance history

Fidelio had a long and complicated history. Ludwig van Beethoven revised it three times because he found writing operas very frustrating and promised never to write another one.

The story of Fidelio began in 1803 when Beethoven was asked to write an opera. He started on a different opera called Vestas Feuer, but later switched to Fidelio. The first performance of Fidelio took place in 1805, but it did not go well because the audience was mostly French soldiers who did not enjoy German opera. Beethoven revised the opera into a shorter two-act version in 1806, which was more successful. He revised it again in 1814, and this final version was very popular and has been performed ever since.

20th-century performance history

Fidelio was Arturo Toscanini’s first complete opera performance in the United States since 1915. It was also the first opera to be broadcast on radio in December 1944, over the NBC network. Toscanini led the NBC Symphony Orchestra, with soloists Rose Bampton, Jan Peerce, and Eleanor Steber. The performance was split into two parts for the broadcast, and the recording was later released by RCA Victor on LP and CD.

After World War II ended, Fidelio was the first opera performed in Berlin. The Deutsche Oper presented it in September 1945, conducted by Robert Heger, at the only theatre that was not damaged, the Theater des Westens.

On 5 November 1955, the Vienna State Opera reopened with a performance of Fidelio, led by Karl Böhm. This event was also the first live television broadcast by ORF, even though there were only about 800 television sets in Austria at the time.

The first performance of Fidelio at the Semperoper in Dresden on 7 October 1989 happened during big protests at the city's main train station. The audience applauded so much during the “Prisoners’ Chorus” that it interrupted the show for a while. The performance ended with the chorus wearing normal clothes, showing they were like the people watching. Just over a month later, on 9 November 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall happened, marking the end of East Germany’s government.

Overtures

Beethoven had a hard time creating the right overture for Fidelio. He made four different versions. The first one, called "Leonore No. 2" in C major, was used for the first show in 1805. Later, in 1806, he made another version called "Leonore No. 3", also in C major, which many people think is the best. But this version was too big for the early parts of the opera, so he tried to make it smaller for a show in 1808, and this is now called "Leonore No. 1". Finally, in 1814, he created a new overture in E major, which is now simply called the Fidelio overture. This last version is usually used today because it fits best at the start of the opera.

Sometimes, conductors like to play "Leonore No. 3" during a break in the last act. This tradition started in the middle of the 19th century, and Gustav Mahler was known for doing this. When played at this point, it helps remind the audience of the exciting rescue scene that just happened.

Roles

Synopsis

Two years before the story begins, a Spanish nobleman named Florestan tried to expose crimes committed by another nobleman, Pizarro. As revenge, Pizarro secretly imprisoned Florestan and spread rumors that he had died.

The story takes place in a Spanish state prison near Seville in the late 17th century. The prison warden, Rocco, has a daughter named Marzelline and an assistant named Jaquino, who loves Marzelline. Florestan’s wife, Leonore, believes her husband is still alive. She disguises herself as a boy named Fidelio and gets a job working for Rocco.

In Act 1, Jaquino asks Marzelline to marry him, but she says she loves Fidelio instead. Rocco tells Fidelio about a secret dungeon where a prisoner has been wasting away for two years. Fidelio insists on seeing him, showing great courage.

In Act 2, Florestan is alone in his dark cell when Rocco and Fidelio come to dig his grave on Pizarro’s orders. Fidelio recognizes Florestan and reveals she is actually Leonore, his wife. When Pizarro tries to harm Florestan, Leonore stops him. The minister arrives, and Pizarro is taken away. Florestan is freed, and everyone celebrates Leonore’s bravery and love for saving her husband.

Instrumentation

The orchestra for Fidelio has one piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, one contrabassoon, four horns, two trumpets, two trombones, timpani, and strings. There is also an offstage trumpet.

Recordings

• Fidelio discography