LeonoreFidelio

LeonoreFidelio is an opera by Ludwig van Beethoven, composed in 1805. It is a Singspiel in two acts, with a libretto by Joseph Sonnleithner, based on a French play 'Leonore ou l'amour conjugal' by Jean-Nicolas Bouilly. The original title was 'Leonore' but later it was changed to 'Fidelio'.

Fidelio is a story about a young woman forsaken by her lover, Florestan, who is imprisoned in a fortress by the corrupt and power-hungry minister Don Pizarro. Against all odds, the woman, Fidelio, must navigate through the prison to save Florestan and clear his name. Along the way, she discovers the dark nature of Don Pizarro's involvement in the prison and the corrupt regime he works under.

Beethoven's 'Fidelio' is considered a significant masterpiece of the 19th-century opera repertoire. The opera went through several changes and revisions until its first successful performance on May 23, 1814, at the Kärntnertor Theatre in Vienna.

The opera's original title 'Leonore' features a soprano role but other revisions of this opera, including the performance of May 23, 1814, feature a mezzo-soprano role. 'Fidelio' has become a classic with critical acclaim, artistic acceptance and success.