Fidelio
opera by Beethoven
Quick Summary
Fidelio is the only opera by Ludwig van Beethoven. First performed in 1805, it tells the story of Leonore, a woman who disguises herself as a young man named Fidelio to rescue her husband from political imprisonment. The opera's themes of the triumph of the human spirit over oppression and its grand musicality have secured its place in the repertoire, despite some challenges with its libretto and vocal writing. Beethoven revised the opera multiple times, with the final version premiering in 1814.12
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