Cast: Leonore - Alias Fidelio, Florestan's wife
Florestan - The prisoner held in solitary confinement on the orders of the the Governor
Rocco - Goaler
Don Pizarro - The Governor
Marzelline - Rocco the goaler's daughter
Jaquino - A porter
Don Fernando - The Minister
First Prisoner
Second Prisoner
Chorus
This
opera contains the classic scenario of the heroine dressing and pretending
to be a man to find and be reunited with her missing husband; complicated
slightly by Marzelline the goaler's daughter transferring her affections from
Jaquino the porter to Fidelio, Leonore's alter ego. The opera is set inside
a prison just outside Seville
where a prisoner Florestan has been held in solitary confinement in the deepest
dungeon on the orders of the governor Don Pizarro for threatening to expose
his corrupt practices. Rocco is the only person allowed access to the prisoner
and he has been steadily reducing his rations to bring on his demise and rid
the governor of the perceived continuing threat. With an inspection visit
of the minister impending, Pizarro panics and attempts to bribe Rocco to kill
the prisoner. Rocco refuses and insists Pizarro wield the knife himself but
offers to help with the burial. Meanwhile his trusty assistant Fidelio (Leonore)
has inveigled his/her way into the dungeon and when the dirty deed is to be
done puts herself between the assailant and her husband only to be rescued
by the timely arrival of the minister. The governor and the goaler are summoned
by the minister, allowing Leonore time and opportunity to escape with her
husband, needless to say the villains are exposed and arrested leaving the
hero and heroin to live happily ever after. As you would expect from this
composer there is some fine music in this sometimes overlooked opera. The
overture is a masterpiece of stirring Germanic proportions complemented by
an assortment of fine arias, duets and choruses which bring the story to life.
Personal favourites are the prisoners chorus ‘O Welche Lust' [Oh What Delight
(to breathe the air of heaven)] sung as they emerge from the depths into the
sunlight of the garden when they are allowed a moment of rare exercise, and
‘Mir ist so Wunderbar' ‘I feel so wonderful' a chorus in which the cast express
their feelings and Fidelio worries about the possible consequences of Marzelline's
affection. The latter being very reminiscent and possibly the source of the
melody of the popular Victorian parlour song ‘In Cellar Cool' giving a whole
new meaning to original story line and turning the dungeon into a tantalising
wine cellar.
ACT
1. The courtyard of a state prison a few miles from Seville.
Duet: 'Jetzt, Schatzchen, jetzt sind wir allein', ‘Now, Precious, now we are alone'
Marzelline, daughter of the gaoler Rocco, is ironing. The porter Jaquino's attempts to broach the subject of marriage are continually interrupted by knockings at the prison gate, much to Marzelline's relief.
Aria: 'O War' ich schon mit dir vereint', ‘If only we could be together'
Although previously fond of Jaquino, she has now fallen in love with her father's new assistant Fidelio.
Quartet: ‘Mir ist so wunderbar', ‘I feel so wonderful'
Fidelio enters weighed down with provisions, new fetters and despatches for the governor, Pizarro. Rocco believes that his assistant is trying to prove himself worthy of Marzelline's hand. As all voice their feelings in the canon Fidelio sings of the embarrassment and danger caused by Marzelline's affection.
Aria: ‘Hat man nicht auch Gold beineben', ‘Has one not gold'
Rocco decides to allow the young pair to marry, even though he knows nothing of Fidelio's origins. He lectures them about one of the necessities of married life – money, but Fidelio replies rather than money, he wants Rocco's trust.
Trio: ‘Gut, Söhnchen, gut'
Can he not be of more help to his master in his arduous duties? Indeed he can, but the governor is strict; there is one secret dungeon that only Rocco may enter. It contains a prisoner who has been in solitary confinement for two years - information that elicits a startled reaction from Fidelio. On Pizzaro's orders Rocco has been steadily reducing the prisoner's ration over the last month: he cannot survive much longer. Marzelline thinks the sight of him would prove too upsetting for her sensitive admirer, but Fidelio swears that he has the courage to face anything and Rocco promises to approach Pizarro for permission to take his prospective son-in-law to the secret dungeon.
Aria: ‘Ha! Welch' ein Augenblick!', ‘Ha! What a moment!'
Pizzaro and a company of guards enter. Rocco hands over the despatches, which contain a letter warning the governor that the Minister Fernando is about to make a surprise inspection of the prison. Pizarro knows that if Florestan, the man who once tried to expose his villainy, is discovered, then all is up with him; he sees the moment has come for decisive action. Florestan must be silenced for ever. He sends a trumpeter to the ramparts with strict orders that once the party from Seville comes into sight he is to sound a fanfare.
Duet: ‘Jetzt, Alter, hat es Eile!' ‘Now old man we must hurry'
With a purse of gold, Pizarro then tries to bribe Rocco to commit murder but Rocco refuses; the taking of human life is not on his list of duties. He keeps the money and consents to dig the grave in a disused cistern in the dungeon. But Pizarro himself must strike the blow.
Scena: ‘Abscheulicher!', ‘Repulsive!'
Fidelio has observed the two speaking together. He – or rather she, for now she is alone she can momentarily drop the pretence of being a young man – curses the pitiless governor and prays for hope to strengthen her in her resolve, a resolve born of her love for her missing husband. In the following scene Fidelio asks Rocco's permission to let the prisoners walk awhile in the garden. After some hesitation Rocco agrees, and leaves to distract Pizarro's attention by seeking his consent to the marriage of Marzelline and Fidelio.
Chorus: ‘O welche Lust', ‘O what delight'
The prisoners emerge slowly, watched by Fidelio, and sing of the joy of even temporary freedom. But there are guards watching from the walls, and as they move towards the garden they know only too well that their every movement is closely observed. Rocco returns with the glad news that Pizarro has agreed to the marriage, and that Fidelio will be allowed into the secret dungeon this very day. He reveals the murder plot: Fidelio must help him dig the grave. Pizarro enters in fury at the prisoners' unauthorised exercise period; Rocco's excuses include the fact that it is the King's name-day and (aside) that Pizarro's anger may as well be reserved for the one prisoner who is shortly to die. As the other prisoners return wearily to their cells, Pizarro orders Rocco down to the dungeon.
ACT 2. An unlit underground dungeon.
Recitative and Aria: ‘Gott! Welch' Dunkel hier', ‘God! how dark here'
The half-starved Florestan lies in chains. His only crime was telling the truth, his only comfort the knowledge that he has done his duty. In delirium he seems to see a vision of his wife Leonore leading him to freedom, in a better world. As he falls unconscious, Rocco and Fidelio enter stealthily to dig his grave.
Duet: ‘Nur hurtig fort', ‘Come quickly'
In pauses during the work Fidelio tries in vain to make out the prisoner's identity; it is only when he speaks and raises his head that she realises for certain it is the missing husband she has been seeking for two years. Florestan begs for some water, but all Rocco has is the dregs of some wine.
Trio: ‘Euch werde Lohn', ‘You will be rewarded'
Florestan wishes that both will be rewarded in a better world, and Fidelio asks to be allowed to give the prisoner a crust of bread. While Rocco gives the signal that all is ready, Fidelio has time to whisper words of encouragement to Florestan: whatever may happen he must never forget that a divine providence watches over all. Pizarro enters and prepares to stab his defenceless victim.
Quartet: 'Er sterbe!', ‘He dies!'
But Fidelio throws herself between them: ‘First kill his wife!' she cries, and as Pizarro advances to do just that she draws a pistol. At that moment the trumpet sounds from the ramparts. The Minister has arrived and Jaquino summons Pizarro and Rocco aloft.
Duet: ‘O namenlose Freude', ‘O unspeakable joy'
Left alone, Florestan and Leonore are re-united in an ecstatic duet.
Finale: 'Heil sei dem Tag', ‘Glorious is the day'
The scene changes to the prison parade ground. To the joy of all the Minister Fernando announces that he has come to unmask injustice and tyranny. Rocco conducts Florestan and Leonore to his presence and Fernando recognises his old friend, the fighter for truth whom all assumed to be dead.
Chorus: ‘O Gott, welch' ein Augenblick!' ‘O God what a moment'
Pizzarro is led away by his own guards. Marzelline realises her mistake over Fidelio. Fernando decrees that only Leonore is worthy to remove Florestan's fetters.
Chorus: ‘Wer ein holdes Weib errungen','Who a sweet woman gains'
The opera ends with a chorus of praise for Leonore's heroism
