Beethoven's "Fidelio" at the Opéra Comique

Fidelio is the only opera Ludwig van Beethoven ever composed. In this work – inspired by a comic opera (based on a true story) by Jean-Nicolas Bouilly and Pierre Gaveaux – the young Leonore disguises herself as a man in order to get a job as an assistant jailer. In the guise of “Fidelio”, she hopes to free her husband Florestan, who has been unjustly thrown into prison by the cruel Don Pizzaro.

Beethoven spent 10 years finetuning Fidelio. In this work so long in the making, the German composer tackles some of the themes that are so close to his heart: love, fidelity, justice and freedom. The result is an intensely lyrical drama that is both timeless and universal in scope.

For this Parisian production, Raphaël Pichon once again finds his faithful Pygmalion choir and orchestra in the pit of the Opéra Comique. The music of the ensemble is complemented to perfection by the voices of Siobhan Stagg (Leonore), Michael Spyres (Florestan), Mari Eriksmoen (Marzelline), Albert Dohmen (Rocco), Gabor Bretz (Don Pizarro), Christian Immler (Don Fernando) and Linard Vrielink (Jaquino).

Performance filmed on 1 October 2021 at the Opéra Comique in Paris