Beethoven’s Fidelio

image: DNO
The Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Dutch National Opera continue their long and successful cooperation with Fidelio, Beethoven's only opera.
The story, about the struggle for liberty, was close to the composer’s heart.

Concert programme

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Fidelio op. 72

Performers

About this concert

The Concertgebouw Orchestra has had a successful partnership with Dutch National Opera for many years, but Beethoven had never entered the discussion. That’s hardly surprising considering we do not usually associate Beethoven with the genre of music theatre, and Fidelio was his only opera. Time for a fresh perspective. And the perfect conductor for the job is Andrés Orozco-Estrada. He kicked off the 2023-24 season by leading Young, the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s youth orchestra, and he concludes the cultural year with this remarkable new opera production. The opera Fidelio was created under dramatic circumstances. Beethoven was battling increasing deafness; Napoleon, meanwhile, had attacked Vienna, where Beethoven lived. According to the composer, no other work had demanded so much blood, sweat and tears. But for that reason, Fidelio became one of his favourite compositions. This is a highly original work because, for Beethoven, writing an opera was anything but routine. And the story, about the struggle for liberty, was close to the composer’s heart.

Dates and tickets

About this concert

The Concertgebouw Orchestra has had a successful partnership with Dutch National Opera for many years, but Beethoven had never entered the discussion. That’s hardly surprising considering we do not usually associate Beethoven with the genre of music theatre, and Fidelio was his only opera. Time for a fresh perspective. And the perfect conductor for the job is Andrés Orozco-Estrada. He kicked off the 2023-24 season by leading Young, the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s youth orchestra, and he concludes the cultural year with this remarkable new opera production. The opera Fidelio was created under dramatic circumstances. Beethoven was battling increasing deafness; Napoleon, meanwhile, had attacked Vienna, where Beethoven lived. According to the composer, no other work had demanded so much blood, sweat and tears. But for that reason, Fidelio became one of his favourite compositions. This is a highly original work because, for Beethoven, writing an opera was anything but routine. And the story, about the struggle for liberty, was close to the composer’s heart.

A preview