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Music:Ludwig van Beethoven.Lyrics:Joseph Sonnleitne,Stephan von Breuning och Georg Friedrich Treitschke after Jean-Nicolas Bouilly.
Libretto
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Première
First performance in Wienna on the 23 May 1814.Attended the performance at Göteborgsoperan in Gothenburg on the 4.2.2006
| Roles | Voices |
|---|---|
| Don Fernando | baritone |
| Don Pizarro | tenor |
| Florestan | tenor |
| Leonore/Fidelio | soprano |
| Rocco | baritone |
| Marzelline | mezzo-soprano |
| Jaquino | tenor |
No.1: Duet marzelline, Joquino: "Now, Sweethart, at last we are alone" Jaquino tries in vain to persuade Marzelline to give him her "yes".
No.2: Marzelline´s aria: "I wished we were united yet" Since Leonore/Fidelio´s arrival, Marzelline has been daydreaming of a life filled with love and work, togethet with Fidelio.
No.3: Quartett and Canon Marzelline, Leonore,Rocco,Joquino. "Happy I shall be." In order to reach her goal and rescue Florestan, Leonore/Fidelio has encouraged Marzelline´s love, whose heart is now in flames. Leonore/Fidelio declares that she now has Marzelline where she needs in order to gain closer access to her goal, that of freeing Florestan.Rocco agrees to Marxelline and Fidelio/Leonore´s marriage. The rejected Jaquino hears this with disgust.
No.4: Rocco´s aria: "Unless there is gold to live on" Rocco praises the value of money: "If you find only love at table,you´ll be hungry afterwards".
No.5: Terzetto Rocco,Leonore, Marzelline: "Be on your toes, then all ends well" Leonore/Fidelio succeeds in convincing Rocco to allow her to assist him in his work with the inmates. Rocco realizes that he needs more help, and in order for the young couple to "firm the tie with heart and hand" and to earn his living, the "little son" (Fidelio) must be promoted. Governor Pizarro shall give his consent.
No.6: March
No.7: Pizarros aria:´"Ah, the moment has come!" Pizarro has arrived to make the discovery that his enemy Florestan is in this prison, and still alive. Finally he will have his revenge and enjoys the thought that he shall soon be taking Florestan´s life.
No.8: Duet Pizarro,Rocco: "A fortune will be yours!". Pizarro bribes Rocco into digging a grave for Florestan, and allowing Pizarro access to the cells in order for him to kill Floretsan.Rocco: "Murder!?" Pizarro: "No time is to be lost; In the interest of the state the criminal subject must quickly be removed."
No.9: Recitativo and Aria, Leonore: "You monster! Where will you go? What have you planned in cruel fury?" Leonore searches within herself for courage and hope. The thought of her love and duty as a wife gives her strength.
No.10: Finale: "Oh what joy, in the open air freely to breathe again!" The prisoners who seek hope from the Lord have a moment of freedom in the fresh air and daylight, but in Governor Pizarro´s presence they feel threatened and persecuted. Fidelio/Leonore finds out from Rocco rhat Pizarro has consented to Fidelio marrying Marzelline and becoming Rocco´s assistant. She also finds out that they are to dig Florestan´s grave so that Pizarro can murder and hide him there. Rocco is reluctant to carry out this sort of order. Pizarro is very agitated about the prisoners being allowed certain "freedoms". Rocco appeals to hom to vent his wrath on Florestan instead of denying the prisoners their celebration of "His Majesty´s birthday. Fidelio/Leonore suffers the pangs of doubt and anguish: "Anxiety makes me tremble,is there no jusice for the wicked?" The prisoners must be returned to their cells.."This is no place for joy and pleasure God! What darkness this."
No.11: Recitativo and Florestan´s Aria: "God! What darkness this!" - In the spring days of my life". Florestan contemplates the darkness that has shrouded his life. "But just is the Lord´s pleasure! I don´t complain! What I´ve to suffer, You decree." While still a young man he was imprisoned for daring to tell the truth, his only comfort is that he has not betrayed this holy duty. A light surrounds him, as though an angel stood by his side, a rescuing angel who looks like Leonore.
No.12: Melodrama and duet Leonore, Rocco: "How cold it is - Get on with it". Rocco and Leonore/Fidelio are in Florestan´s cell, he appears lifeless and Leonore/Fidelio has difficulty recognising him. They now have to dig his grave. Leonore/Fidelio is shivering of anxiety and cold, but must hurry - Pizarro is waiting, impatiently. Leonore/Fidelio, uncertain whether it is in fact Florestan who is in the cell says that whoever he is she will save him.
No.13: Terzetto Florestan,Rocco,Leonore: "Reward be yours in better worlds": Leonore/Fidelio offer Florestan something to eat and drink in "his final hour": Florestan is filled with gratitude. Rocco trembles before the ill deed.
No.14: Quartet Pizarro, Florestan Leonore, Rocco: "He shall die". The hour of vengeance is nigh for Pizarro and Leonore knows what she must do:"I am his wife, I wowed him help and death to you!" The minister arrives. Pizarro,now reveales: "The traitors laugh at me, and Florestan will again be free".
No.15: Duet Leonore, Florestan: "Oh what boundless happiness!"
No.16: Finale:"Blessed the day,blessed the hour". The minister Don Fernando is told what has passed and remembers: "Don Florestan, my friend, who I thought dead, he who strove for the truth". Justice will be done, Pizarro will receive his punishment. The minister, the King - and most of all Leonore are praised:"Never be it praised too highly the husband´s saviour to become".
Translation: Pernille Krafft
Beethoven:Fidelio
Margiono,Seiffert,Leiferkus,Skovhus,Bonney
Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Nikolaus Harnoncourt
TELDEC 4509-94560-2[2CD].1995
Fidelio
Flagstad, Patzak, Schöffler, Greindl, Schwarzkopf, Dermota
Vienna State Opera Chorus; Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; Furtwängler
EMI CHS7 64901-2 2 CDs
Fidelio
Nielsen, Winbergh, Titus, Moll, Lienbacher
Hungarian Radio Chorus; Nicholas esterházy Sinfonia; Halász
Naxos 8.66070/71 2 CDs
Fidelio
Domingo, Meier, Struckmann, Pape, Isokoski
Chorus and Orchestra of Staatskapelle Berlin; Barenboim
Teldec 3984-25249-2 2 CDs
Fidelio
Behrens, King, Popp, McIntyre, Moll
Chorus and Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera;Böhm
Orfeo C560 012 2 CDs
Fidelio
Dernesch, Vickers Ridderbusch, Donath
Berlin Deutsche Oper Chorus; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra; Karajan
EMI CMS7 69290-2 2 CDs
Fidelio
Jurinac, Peerce, Stader, Niedlinger, Dickie
Chorus and Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera; Knappertsbusch
Dg Westminster Legacy 471 204-2 2 CDs
Fidelio
Martinpelto, Begley, Best, Miles
The Monteverdi Choir; Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique; Gardiner
Archiv 453 461-2 2 CDs