Beethoven: Fidelio op. 72

Tonality

Without a unique tone. Like every opera, it goes through a lot of tonalities. The final overture, that of Fidelium, is in My major.

Instruments

• 2 flutes (one also flautin)
• 2 oboes
• 2 clarings
• 2 fages and contrafagot
• 4 tubes
• 2 trumpets and timbals
• 2 thrombons
• Trump off-stage (the signal announcing the minister's arrival)
• Rope (violins, violas, cello and contrabajes)

From the atril

Fidelium It's Beethoven's only opera, and it cost him almost ten years of effort. The first version, entitled Leonore, was released in 1805 to an audience of French officials who had just occupied Vienna, and failed. After two in-depth reviews, the final version of 1814 was a great success. On the way, Beethoven wrote four different obertures: the three «Leonora» and Fidelium.

The story, set in Spain, tells how Leonora is disguised as a man, with the name of Fidelio, to enter work in the prison where her husband Florare unjustly locked by a tyrant. It is a song of freedom, conjugal love and justice. The most famous moments are the canonical quartet of the first act, of a suspended beauty; the chorus of the prisoners who go out in the open, one of the most touching passages of the entire opera; the aria of Florestan in its dungeon; and the triumphant end, closer to an oratory than to an opera. The overture «Leonora No. 3» is often played in concert.

What to hear

• The canon quartet of the first act.
• The prisoners' choir.
• The overture «Leonora No. 3».

Listen

Beethoven Fidelio Op 72 Full Opera subtitled in Spanish · Sir Mc Arthur MASTER
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