Admin

Organization

Singer

Soprano

Deborah Voigt

Leonore

Tenor

Zoran Todorovich

Florestan

Bass

Franz Hawlata

Rocco

Cinzia Forte

Marzelline

Yuri Gorodetski

Jaquino

Baritone

Thomas Gazheli

Don Pizzaro

Laurent Kubla

Don Fernando

Conductor

Paolo Arrivabeni

Stage director

Mario Martone

Set designer

Sergio Tramonti

Costume designer

Ursula Patzak

Lighting designer

Nicolas Bovey

Chorus master

Marcel Seminara

Jennifer Wilson

Alexei Gorbatchev

Second prisoner

Xavier Petithan

First prisoner

Opéra Royal de Wallonie - Liège

Orchestra

Royal Opera of Wallonia Orchestra

Others

Choeur de l'Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège

Fidelio

Liège

Belgium

Théâtre Royal de Liège

Petit Théâtre

A new production of Beethoven's Fidelio at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, directed by Mario Martone and conducted by Paolo Arrivabeni.

Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, is tempered by the themes of love and justice, and passed through a long and painful creative process: nine years, multiple overtures, two librettists, and a complete restructuring were needed before the composer produced the version known and performed today. The work's premiere met a mixed reception, partially due to an orchestra whose members found the music too difficult. Perhaps more problematic was the audience, primarily composed of French officers of the Napoleonic army occupying the Austrian capital city, who would have had difficulty appreciating a work denouncing the illegitimate use of force and arbitrary justice. Indeed, freedom and fraternity are the two main themes of this opera: the plot follows a young lady who through intelligence and faithful love successfully frees her unjustly incarcerated husband, and overthrows a despotic governor. The finale of Fidelio foreshadows both the Ode to Joy and the Ninth Symphony.

With this performance the Italian stage director Mario Martone makes his début at the Liège opera theatre. The remarkable cast stars Jennifer Wilson as Leonore.

Argument of Fidelio.
At the Governor Don Pizarro's request, Florestan is incarcerated in a prison near Sevilla for denouncing the abuses of the state. His loving wife Leonore is determined to free him. Dressing up as a boy called Fidelio, she joins the prison's staff. A forthcoming visit by the Minister Don Fernando worries Don Pizarro and Florestan is condemned to death. Leonore-Fidelio places herself between her husband and the Governor who is about to murder his political opponent. The providential appearance of Don Fernando, a righteous man, prevents Florestan from being killed at the last minute. The cruel Don Pizarro is condemned. Florestan is freed.

Fidelio Beethoven

Pro Users Only

Public

Approved

Production booklet

Further reading