Fidelio
Ludwig van BeethovenSEPTEMBER 29, OCTOBER 1, 7, 12, 14, 18, AND 20, 2023
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Performance time is approximately two hours and 40 minutes, including one 30-minute intermission
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HOUSE PROGRAM
Beethoven’s only opera follows the story of Leonore, a woman who disguises herself as a man to go undercover into the very prison where she suspects her husband is being held as a political prisoner. As she descends deeper into the prison’s cells, she uncovers a sinister plot of abuse and oppression.
Acclaimed director Matthew Ozawa transports the action to a modern-day prison facility, reminding viewers that Beethoven’s warnings in Fidelio—about power, corruption, and tyranny—remain as relevant today as they were 200 years ago, while crystallizing the composer’s vision for justice and freedom.
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAMS
Conductor: Johannes Debus
Director: Matthew Ozawa
Assistant Director: Marilyn Gronsdal
Assistant Conductor: Derek Bate
Set and Projections Designer: Alexander Nichols
Costume Designer: Jessica Jahn
Associate Costume Designer: Lynly A. Saunders
Lighting Designer: Yuki Nakase Link
Price Family Chorus Master: Sandra Horst
Stage Manager: Stephanie Marrs
Assistant Stage Manager: Lesley Abarquez
Assistant Stage Manager: Tamara Vuckovic
Apprentice Stage Manager: Elizabeth Schieman
Fight and Intimacy Coordinator: Siobhan Richardson
Leonore: Miina-Liisa Värelä
Florestan: Clay Hilley
Rocco: Dimitry Ivashchenko
Marzelline: Anna-Sophie Neher
Jaquino: Josh Lovell
Don Pizarro: Johannes Martin Kränzle
Don Fernando: Sava Vemić
First Prisoner: Wesley Harrison
Second Prisoner: Alex Halliday
With the COC Orchestra and Chorus
A production from San Francisco Opera
Johannes Debus is generously sponsored by George & Kathy Dembroski
Sandra Horst and the COC Chorus are generously underwritten by Tim & Frances Price
The COC Orchestra is generously sponsored, in part, by W. Bruce C. Bailey, in honour of Christie Darville, COC Deputy General Director, and Johannes Debus, COC Music Director, and, in part, by the Schulich Foundation
SYNOPSIS IN A MINUTE
Leonore believes her husband Florestan has been unjustly imprisoned by the corrupt Don Pizarro. Disguised as a man, and calling herself Fidelio, she gets work at the prison, finds out that her husband is there, and finally saves his life and exposes Don Pizarro, to general rejoicing by all.
FULL SYNOPSIS
Act I
Don Pizarro, the prison governor, is arbitrarily holding political prisoners, including his personal enemy Florestan. Florestan’s wife, Leonore, has disguised herself as a man, and, using the name Fidelio, has taken a job working for Rocco, the chief jailer – she hopes to find and free her husband. Rocco’s daughter Marzelline falls in love with Fidelio, whom she believes to be a man and rejects the wooing of Jaquino, the gatekeeper. Unable to locate Florestan among the regular prisoners, Leonore persuades Rocco to take her along into the secret dungeons, where she suspects her husband is being held.
Rocco receives orders from Pizarro to dig a grave for Florestan. Pizarro intends to murder Florestan, because the minister, having heard of Pizarro’s treatment of political prisoners, has announced that he will be visiting the prison for a surprise inspection. Leonore overhears the conversation between Pizarro and Rocco, and realizes that she must act quickly.
INTERMISSION
Act II
In the secret dungeon, Rocco and Leonore are digging Florestan’s grave. Leonore sees a prisoner who has been badly mistreated, and decided she must save him, whoever he may be. When she recognizes him as her husband, she is prepared to do whatever is necessary to save him. At a signal from Rocco, Pizarro descends into the dungeon to murder Florestan. Leonore throws herself in front of her husband, pointing a pistol at Pizarro as she reveals her true identity. Just at that moment, a trumpet call announces the arrival of the minister, and thus Florestan’s salvation. Pizarro curses the moment, while Rocco is relieved at this unexpected outside intervention. Leonore and Florestan are filled with indescribable joy.
All the cells are opened. The villagers appear and join in the celebration. Marzelline feels robbed of her happiness when she learns that Fidelio is in fact Leonore. Don Fernando announces in the king’s name that Pizzaro’s injustices will be righted, and Pizarro is led away. Leonore removes Florestan’s chains.
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Born in Bonn, Germany, baptized on Dec. 17, 1770;
died in Vienna, Austria on March 26, 1827
Beethoven's first music teacher was his father. Both men followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, also a musician. By the age of 12 Beethoven had published his first music. His studies were financially assisted by the Elector of Bonn, and, despite being destined to be one of the greatest composers of all time, Beethoven achieved his first success as a piano virtuoso. In his early twenties he moved to Vienna, where he played private recitals for the aristocracy, studied piano with the composer Franz Joseph Haydn. He finally made his first public performance in 1795. He was reported as being a pianist who played with fire, brilliance, and with a great depth of feeling.
Beethoven was composing a great deal during this time and completed such notable works as his Piano Sonatas No. 1 – 3 (Opus 2), the Piano Sonata No. 8 (Opus 13), commonly known as the Pathétique (1799), the Piano Sonata No. 14 (Opus 27), commonly known as the Moonlight Sonata (1801), his first two symphonies and a set of string quartets (Opus 18).
In 1796 his hearing began to deteriorate. In 1802 his hearing loss was diagnosed, which was a devastating blow to a young musician and Beethoven became severely depressed. His hearing was completely gone by 1815.
Beethoven's career as a performer ended in 1808. He persevered in music and poured all his creative energies into composition, including several large-scale works with recognizable themes of struggle and heroism.
Starting in 1815, Beethoven was involved in a bitter custody dispute for his nephew, whose father had died and whose mother – Beethoven claimed – was not fit to raise him. He won custody but ten years later, in 1826, the unhappy nephew attempted suicide and was returned to his mother's care. It was during this time, that he wrote some of his most impassioned, expressive and intellectually innovative music. Works include the String Quartet (Opus 131) and his Ninth Symphony (Opus 125). Beethoven’s health was already greatly compromised by lead poisoning and later that year he caught a cold which complicated matters further. He died with some of his closest friends by his side and his funeral was attended by thousands.
Beethoven’s legacy was a vital influence in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras of Western classical music, and he remains one of the greatest composers of all time.
- Lindsay Barrett
- Christina Bell
- Mary Bella
- Stacie Carmona
- Virginia Hatfield
- Leanne Kaufman
- Alexandra Lennox
- Eve Rachel McLeod
- Jennifer Robinson
- Teresa van der Hoeven
Mezzo-Sopranos
- Michal Aloni
- Susan Black
- Sandra Boyes
- Wendy Hatala Foley
- Erica Iris Huang
- Kathryn (Katie) Knapp
- Karen Olinyk
- Megan Quick
- Marianne Sasso
- Vilma Indra Vītols
Tenors
- Vanya Abrahams
- Stephen Bell
- Marcel d'Entremont
- Ryan Downey
- Stephen Erickson
- Mike Fan
- Derek Kwan
- Jason Lamont
- James Leatch
- Nazar Lozynskyy
- Stephen McClare
- Derrick Paul Miller
- Ross Mortimer
- Daevyd Pepper
- Tan Vu
Basses/Baritones
- Grant Allert
- Kenneth Baker
- Peter Barnes
- Cesar Bello Rodriguez
- Nicholas Borg
- Sung Chung
- Jesse Clark
- Bruno Cormier
- Keith Lam
- Jason Nedecky
- Calvin Powell
- Michael Sproule
- Peter Wiens
- Gene Wu
- Michael York
COC NEWS: GET TO KNOW THE CAST OF FIDELIO
COC NEWS: GET TO KNOW FIDELIO DIRECTOR MATTHEW OZAWA
COC NEWS: 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FIDELIO
COC NEWS: THE MUSIC OF FIDELIO
Leonore's Aria
Meet the Cast
-
Sung in German with English SURTITLESTM
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAMS
Conductor: Johannes Debus
Director: Matthew Ozawa
Assistant Director: Marilyn Gronsdal
Assistant Conductor: Derek Bate
Set and Projections Designer: Alexander Nichols
Costume Designer: Jessica Jahn
Associate Costume Designer: Lynly A. Saunders
Lighting Designer: Yuki Nakase Link
Price Family Chorus Master: Sandra Horst
Stage Manager: Stephanie Marrs
Assistant Stage Manager: Lesley Abarquez
Assistant Stage Manager: Tamara Vuckovic
Apprentice Stage Manager: Elizabeth Schieman
Fight and Intimacy Coordinator: Siobhan Richardson
Leonore: Miina-Liisa Värelä
Florestan: Clay Hilley
Rocco: Dimitry Ivashchenko
Marzelline: Anna-Sophie Neher
Jaquino: Josh Lovell
Don Pizarro: Johannes Martin Kränzle
Don Fernando: Sava Vemić
First Prisoner: Wesley Harrison
Second Prisoner: Alex Halliday
With the COC Orchestra and Chorus
A production from San Francisco Opera
Johannes Debus is generously sponsored by George & Kathy Dembroski
Sandra Horst and the COC Chorus are generously underwritten by Tim & Frances Price
The COC Orchestra is generously sponsored, in part, by W. Bruce C. Bailey, in honour of Christie Darville, COC Deputy General Director, and Johannes Debus, COC Music Director, and, in part, by the Schulich Foundation -
SYNOPSIS IN A MINUTE
Leonore believes her husband Florestan has been unjustly imprisoned by the corrupt Don Pizarro. Disguised as a man, and calling herself Fidelio, she gets work at the prison, finds out that her husband is there, and finally saves his life and exposes Don Pizarro, to general rejoicing by all.
FULL SYNOPSIS
Act I
Don Pizarro, the prison governor, is arbitrarily holding political prisoners, including his personal enemy Florestan. Florestan’s wife, Leonore, has disguised herself as a man, and, using the name Fidelio, has taken a job working for Rocco, the chief jailer – she hopes to find and free her husband. Rocco’s daughter Marzelline falls in love with Fidelio, whom she believes to be a man and rejects the wooing of Jaquino, the gatekeeper. Unable to locate Florestan among the regular prisoners, Leonore persuades Rocco to take her along into the secret dungeons, where she suspects her husband is being held.
Rocco receives orders from Pizarro to dig a grave for Florestan. Pizarro intends to murder Florestan, because the minister, having heard of Pizarro’s treatment of political prisoners, has announced that he will be visiting the prison for a surprise inspection. Leonore overhears the conversation between Pizarro and Rocco, and realizes that she must act quickly.
INTERMISSION
Act II
In the secret dungeon, Rocco and Leonore are digging Florestan’s grave. Leonore sees a prisoner who has been badly mistreated, and decided she must save him, whoever he may be. When she recognizes him as her husband, she is prepared to do whatever is necessary to save him. At a signal from Rocco, Pizarro descends into the dungeon to murder Florestan. Leonore throws herself in front of her husband, pointing a pistol at Pizarro as she reveals her true identity. Just at that moment, a trumpet call announces the arrival of the minister, and thus Florestan’s salvation. Pizarro curses the moment, while Rocco is relieved at this unexpected outside intervention. Leonore and Florestan are filled with indescribable joy.
All the cells are opened. The villagers appear and join in the celebration. Marzelline feels robbed of her happiness when she learns that Fidelio is in fact Leonore. Don Fernando announces in the king’s name that Pizzaro’s injustices will be righted, and Pizarro is led away. Leonore removes Florestan’s chains. -
-
Ludwig van Beethoven
Born in Bonn, Germany, baptized on Dec. 17, 1770;
died in Vienna, Austria on March 26, 1827
Beethoven's first music teacher was his father. Both men followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, also a musician. By the age of 12 Beethoven had published his first music. His studies were financially assisted by the Elector of Bonn, and, despite being destined to be one of the greatest composers of all time, Beethoven achieved his first success as a piano virtuoso. In his early twenties he moved to Vienna, where he played private recitals for the aristocracy, studied piano with the composer Franz Joseph Haydn. He finally made his first public performance in 1795. He was reported as being a pianist who played with fire, brilliance, and with a great depth of feeling.
Beethoven was composing a great deal during this time and completed such notable works as his Piano Sonatas No. 1 – 3 (Opus 2), the Piano Sonata No. 8 (Opus 13), commonly known as the Pathétique (1799), the Piano Sonata No. 14 (Opus 27), commonly known as the Moonlight Sonata (1801), his first two symphonies and a set of string quartets (Opus 18).
In 1796 his hearing began to deteriorate. In 1802 his hearing loss was diagnosed, which was a devastating blow to a young musician and Beethoven became severely depressed. His hearing was completely gone by 1815.
Beethoven's career as a performer ended in 1808. He persevered in music and poured all his creative energies into composition, including several large-scale works with recognizable themes of struggle and heroism.
Starting in 1815, Beethoven was involved in a bitter custody dispute for his nephew, whose father had died and whose mother – Beethoven claimed – was not fit to raise him. He won custody but ten years later, in 1826, the unhappy nephew attempted suicide and was returned to his mother's care. It was during this time, that he wrote some of his most impassioned, expressive and intellectually innovative music. Works include the String Quartet (Opus 131) and his Ninth Symphony (Opus 125). Beethoven’s health was already greatly compromised by lead poisoning and later that year he caught a cold which complicated matters further. He died with some of his closest friends by his side and his funeral was attended by thousands.
Beethoven’s legacy was a vital influence in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras of Western classical music, and he remains one of the greatest composers of all time. -
Sopranos
- Lindsay Barrett
- Christina Bell
- Mary Bella
- Stacie Carmona
- Virginia Hatfield
- Leanne Kaufman
- Alexandra Lennox
- Eve Rachel McLeod
- Jennifer Robinson
- Teresa van der Hoeven
Mezzo-Sopranos
- Michal Aloni
- Susan Black
- Sandra Boyes
- Wendy Hatala Foley
- Erica Iris Huang
- Kathryn (Katie) Knapp
- Karen Olinyk
- Megan Quick
- Marianne Sasso
- Vilma Indra Vītols
Tenors
- Vanya Abrahams
- Stephen Bell
- Marcel d'Entremont
- Ryan Downey
- Stephen Erickson
- Mike Fan
- Derek Kwan
- Jason Lamont
- James Leatch
- Nazar Lozynskyy
- Stephen McClare
- Derrick Paul Miller
- Ross Mortimer
- Daevyd Pepper
- Tan Vu
Basses/Baritones
- Grant Allert
- Kenneth Baker
- Peter Barnes
- Cesar Bello Rodriguez
- Nicholas Borg
- Sung Chung
- Jesse Clark
- Bruno Cormier
- Keith Lam
- Jason Nedecky
- Calvin Powell
- Michael Sproule
- Peter Wiens
- Gene Wu
- Michael York
-
COC NEWS: GET TO KNOW THE CAST OF FIDELIO
COC NEWS: GET TO KNOW FIDELIO DIRECTOR MATTHEW OZAWA
COC NEWS: 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FIDELIO
COC NEWS: THE MUSIC OF FIDELIO
-
Pre-Performance Chat with Matthew Ozawa
Leonore's Aria
Meet the Cast
2023/2024 season creative: BT/A
