Fidelio (/ fɪˈdeɪljoʊ /; [1] German: [fiˈdeːlio]), originally titled Leonore, oder Der Triumph der ehelichen Liebe (Leonore, or The Triumph of Marital Love), [2] Op. 72, is the sole opera by German composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The libretto was originally prepared by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly.

Mar 15, 2025 · Music The powerful and innovative use of the orchestra found throughout Fidelio is not surprising from Beethoven. Likewise, the chorus’s evocative music is expected from the composer of such notable choral works as the Missa Solemnis and the triumphant choral finale of Ninth Symphony.

Paris: A. Farrenc, n.d. [1826]. Plate 72. According to Altmann's notes to the Eulenburg edition full score (ca.1920?), Farrenc released this with a German and French text, the latter by N. and Merville; and retained the first version of the opera's division in three acts.

Yet in the 21st century, opera directors have begun to rediscover the powerful political message behind Beethoven’s work, for Fidelio ’s core messages about loyalty, freedom, and justice remain as pertinent today as they were 200 years ago.

Beethoven’s sole opera, Fidelio, is a story of unwavering love and daring rescue. Disguised as a young man named Fidelio, Leonore infiltrates a prison to save her unjustly imprisoned husband, Florestan.

Beethoven was a prisoner of his deafness, locked in a dark world of silence. In Florestan, the male protagonist of Fidelio, Beethoven discovered a kindred soul: a fellow prisoner, unjustly incarcerated by a malevolent authority figure (the corrupt and vengeful prison governor Pizarro).

“Fidelio,” Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera, stands as a monumental achievement in the world of classical music. Through its intricate narrative, profound themes, and groundbreaking music, it captures the essence of Beethoven’s artistic vision and his deep commitment to the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity.

Ludwig van Beethoven, primarily known for his symphonies and sonatas, ventured into the realm of opera with a singular, powerful work: “Fidelio.” This opera, unique in Beethoven’s oeuvre, stands as a testament to his musical genius and his deep engagement with the themes of freedom, love, and heroism.

Beethoven began work on Fidelio in 1804 immediately after giving up on Vestas Feuer and it was first performed in 1805. Although Beethoven used the title Leonore, oder Der Triumph der ehelichen Liebe (“Leonore, or The Triumph of Married Love”), the 1805 performances were billed as Fidelio at the theatre’s insistence to avoid confusion ...

Jan 26, 2019 · As in his 9th symphony, Beethoven set a musical monument to freedom with Fidelio. In Beethoven’s Fidelio we recognize two distinctly different sections. The first third is light-hearted like a singspiel and reminds us of the popular Magic Flute. With the appearance of Don Pizarro, the tone of the music changes abruptly and turns into a drama.