German Opera: Fidelio by Ludwig Van Beethoven

Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, went through many stages of revision. The first, a three-act version, was premiered in Vienna in 1805. Afterward he shortened the opera and wrote a new overture, and a two-act version was performed in 1806. Neither had great success. Finally, after further revisions of both the music and the libretto, the final version of the opera premiered in 1814 to great acclaim. With its combination of dialogue, an element of Singspiel (German comedic operas), and a serious plot, Fidelio holds an important place in the operatic tradition, foreshadowing such works as Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz.

Characters in Fidelio

• Don Pizzaro, a governor of the state prison (Baritone)
• Florestan, a political prisoner (Tenor)
• Leonore, his wife, disguised as Fidelio (Soprano)
• Rocco, a prison guard (Bass)
• Marzelline, his daughter (Soprano)
• Jaquino, a gatekeeper (Tenor)
• Don Fernando, the king's minister (Bass)

Plot Synopsis of Fidelio

Act I - A Prison Courtyard

Jaquino wants to marry Marzelline, but discovers that she is actually in love with Fidelio, her father's new assistant. In fact, Fidelio is a woman, Leonore, who has disguised herself as a man and taken a job at the prison in the hopes of finding her husband, Florestan. Rocco, Marzelline's father, approves of Marzelline's plan to pursue Fidelio.

Don Pizzarro, fearful that his vengeful imprisonment of Florestan will be discovered, instructs Rocco to kill him. Rocco refuses. Pizarro orders him to uncover an old well where the prisoner will be buried, and decides to commit the murder himself. Leonore overhears and despairs.

Leonore asks Rocco to open the prison doors and allow the prisoners to get some fresh air. He does, but Florestan is not among them. Leonore goes along with Rocco to dig Florestan's grave, and Pizzarro orders the prisoners back in their cells.

Act II - Florestan's Dungeon

Florestan languishes in his dungeon, hoping to see Leonore again. Rocco and Leonore arrive to dig the grave. She recognizes him and offers him bread.

Pizzarro arrives to kill Florestan, but Leonore throws herself before her husband, saying that Pizzarro must kill the wife first. A trumpet heralds Don Fernando's arrival. Pizzarro leaves and Leonore and Florestan joyfully reunite.

In the courtyard, Leonore reveals her identity and the plot to kill her husband to Don Fernando, and Don Pizzarro is dragged off to prison.

Sources

Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goers' Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.

Warrack, John and Ewan West. The Oxford Dictionary of Opera. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.