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.