04-01-17 – Fidelio – 1pm

Metropolitan Opera

Fidelio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Libretto by Joseph Sonnleithner

• sung in German
• ESTIMATED RUN TIME 2 HRS 33 MINS
• front page photo credit: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

Beethoven’s only opera—an ode to freedom, justice, and the human spirit—returns to the Met with a fine cast. Adrianne Pieczonka is Leonore, who, disguised as Fidelio, courageously fights for her husband Florestan’s freedom. Klaus Florian Vogt is Florestan, Greer Grimsley is Don Pizarro, and Falk Struckmann is Rocco. Sebastian Weigle conducts.

Premiere: Theater am Kärntnertor, Vienna, 1814. Fidelio would command our respect for the sole reason of being Beethoven’s only complete opera. Beyond this, the opera’s unusual structure, glorious score, and life-affirming aura make it a unique experience. It has been called a hymn to freedom and human dignity. Formally a singspiel (with musical numbers separated by spoken dialogue), Fidelio had a long and complex gestation. Its uplifting spirit made it the obvious choice for several important productions marking the end of World War II, including the reopening of the Vienna State Opera in 1955.