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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 struggle, much like Beethoven's own battle to perfect it. The opera tells the story of Leonore, who disguises herself as a male prison guard, "Fidelio," to rescue her politically imprisoned husband, Florestan, from the clutches of a corrupt governor. Its themes of justice, loyalty, and liberation deeply resonated with Beethoven's core beliefs.

Fidelio had a notoriously difficult birth. It premiered in November 1805, during Vienna's occupation by Napoleon's French troops, to a small, unenthusiastic audience. This version, with its original "Leonore" Overture No. 2, ran for only three performances. Dissatisfied, Beethoven revised it for a second attempt in 1806, for which he composed the "Leonore" Overture No. 3. This version also met with limited success. Finally, a significantly revised third version of the opera premiered

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    Fidelio-op72   
    Composed in 1805.
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