A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Fidelio
FIDELIO, ODER DIE EHELICHE LIEBE. Beethoven's single opera (op. 72); the words adapted by Joseph Sonnleithner from Bouilly's 'Léonore, ou l'Amour conjugal.' He received the text in the winter of 1804, and composed the opera at Hetzendorf in the summer. It was produced (1.) at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 1805, in 3 acts; the overture was probably that known as 'Leonora No. 2.' Cherubini was in the house. (2.) It was played again on the 21st and 22nd, and then withdrawn. (See p. 185a.) The libretto was then reduced by Breuning to 2 acts; 3 pieces of music—said to have been an air for Pizzaro with chorus; a duet, Leonore and Marzelline; and a terzet, Marzelline, Jaquino, and Rocco—were sacrificed, and the overture 'Leonora No. 3' composed. It was played again at the Imperial private theatre on Saturday, March 29, 1806, and April 10, and again withdrawn. [App. p.636 "(3.) After the death of Guardasoni, the Italian Director of the Prague opera, in 1806, and the appointment of Liebich, and the adoption of the German opera there, Beethoven, with the view to a probable performance of 'Fidelio,' wrote the overture known as 'Leonora, no. 1,' as an 'easier work' than either of the two preceding. The performance, however, did not come off, and the overture remained in MS. and unknown till after Beethoven's death, when it was sold in the Sale of his effects and published in 1832 (Haslinger) as 'Overture in C, op. 138' (Aut. 'Characteristische Ouverture'). See Seyfried, p. 9; Thayer, iii. 25."] (3.) [App. p.636 "(4.)" Early in 1814 the opera, as again revised by Treitschke, was submitted to Beethoven; he at once set to work, and it was produced a third time, in 2 acts, at the Kärnthnerthor theatre, Vienna, on May 23, 1814, as Fidelio. The overture was that of the 'Ruins of Athens,' but on the 26th the overture in E, known as the 'Overture to Fidelio,' was first played. It was Beethoven's wish that the opera should be called Leonora, but it was never performed under that name. (4.) [App. p.636 "(5.)" It was produced in Paris, at the Théâtre Lyrique, translated by Barbier and Carré, and in 3 acts, May 5, 1860. In London by Chelard's German company (Schröder, etc.) at the King's Theatre, May 18, 1832. In English (Malibran) at Covent Garden, June 12, 35. In Italian (Cruvelli and Sims Reeves, Recitatives by Balfe) at Her Majesty's, May 20, 1851. (5.) [App. p.636 "(6.)" The chief editions are—a P.F. score of the 2nd arrangement (by Moscheles under B.'s direction) without Overture or Finale, 1810; with them, 1815; both entitled 'Leonore.' A ditto of the 3rd arrangement, entitled 'Fidelio' Aug. 1814. A critical edition by Otto Jahn of the complete work as 'Leonora,' in P.F. score, showing the variations and changes (Breitkopf & Härtel, 1851). An English translation by Oliphant (Addison ft Hollier), and another by Soane, with Preface (Boosey). The 4 overtures are given in the Royal Edition (Boosey).
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