Fidelio

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. She 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. It went through some changes before it reached its final form. By 1814, the story was shortened and improved. It was performed again on May 23, 1814.

The story of Fidelio matches Beethoven’s love for tales about bravery and love. 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 and a thrilling scene when Leonore saves Florestan. The ending of the opera celebrates Leonore’s courage with beautiful music.

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 had danger and bravery, but they ended happily because of a hero's courage.

Beethoven liked these stories better than lighter tales that 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 tell this kind of story 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 full opera show in the United States since 1915. It was also the first opera ever heard on the radio in December 1944, on the NBC network. Toscanini led the NBC Symphony Orchestra, with singers Rose Bampton, Jan Peerce, and Eleanor Steber. The show was split into two parts for the radio, and the recording was later sold by RCA Victor on LP and CD.

After World War II ended, Fidelio was the first opera performed in Berlin. The Deutsche Oper put on the show in September 1945, led by Robert Heger, at the only theatre left undamaged, the Theater des Westens.

On 5 November 1955, the Vienna State Opera started again with a show of Fidelio, led by Karl Böhm. This was also the first live TV show by ORF, even though very few people in Austria had TVs at that time.

The first time Fidelio was shown at the Semperoper in Dresden was on 7 October 1989, during big protests at the city's train station. The audience clapped so much during the “Prisoners’ Chorus” that it stopped the show for a while. The show ended with the chorus wearing everyday clothes, showing they were like the people watching. A little more than a month later, on 9 November 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall took place, ending the East Germany government.

Overtures

Beethoven had trouble making 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. In 1806, he made another version called "Leonore No. 3", also in C major. Many people think this is the best. But it was too long for the start of the opera, so he made a shorter version for a show in 1808, now called "Leonore No. 1". Finally, in 1814, he made a new overture in E major, now called the Fidelio overture. This version is used today because it fits best at the start.

Sometimes, conductors play "Leonore No. 3" during a break in the last act. This tradition began in the middle of the 19th century, and Gustav Mahler often did this. When played then, it reminds 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 show wrongdoings by another nobleman, Pizarro. As revenge, Pizarro hid Florestan away and told everyone he had died.

The story happens in a Spanish prison near Seville in the late 1600s. The prison guard, Rocco, has a daughter named Marzelline and an helper named Jaquino, who loves Marzelline. Florestan’s wife, Leonore, thinks her husband is still alive. She hides as a boy named Fidelio and gets a job with Rocco.

In Act 1, Jaquino asks Marzelline to marry him, but she says she loves Fidelio. Rocco tells Fidelio about a secret place where a prisoner has been kept for two years. Fidelio bravely wants to see him.

In Act 2, Florestan is alone in his dark cell when Rocco and Fidelio come to prepare his grave as Pizarro ordered. Fidelio recognizes Florestan and shows she is really Leonore, his wife. When Pizarro tries to hurt Florestan, Leonore stops him. The minister comes, and Pizarro is taken away. Florestan is set free, and everyone cheers for Leonore’s brave act and her 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