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Beethoven Fidelio Overture Program Notes

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Overture to Fidelio (or Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b)

Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, is a powerful tale of love, courage, and the fight for freedom against tyranny. While the opera itself is a cornerstone of the repertoire, it's particularly fascinating for its overtures – yes, plural! Beethoven, a notoriously meticulous and self-critical composer, actually wrote four different overtures for Fidelio over the course of its various revisions. The one most frequently heard in concert halls today, and indeed one of his most compelling standalone orchestral works, is the "Leonore" Overture No. 3.

A Perilous Path to the Stage: The Opera's Genesis

The story of Fidelio (originally titled Leonore, or The Triumph of Marital Love) is one of great

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    Fidelio-op72     
    Composed in 1805.
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