Ludwig van Beethoven's "Fidelio, Abridged Version" is a captivating journey through one of the composer's most celebrated operas. Released on January 1, 1960, under the BNF Collection label, this album offers a condensed yet powerful rendition of Beethoven's only opera, "Fidelio." Spanning a duration of one hour, the abridged version masterfully captures the essence of the original work, blending classical orchestration with profound vocal performances.
The opera tells the story of Leonore, a woman disguised as a man named Fidelio, who infiltrates a political prison to rescue her husband, Florestan, from the clutches of the tyrannical governor Don Pizarro. The album features a rich tapestry of arias, duets, and choruses that highlight Beethoven's genius for dramatic expression and emotional depth. Notable tracks include the stirring overture, the haunting aria "Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!" sung by Florestan, and the triumphant finale "Heil sei dem Tag, Heil sei der Stunde."
Beethoven's "Fidelio, Abridged Version" is a testament to the composer's enduring legacy and his ability to weave together music and narrative into a cohesive and compelling whole. This album is a must-listen for classical music enthusiasts and those seeking to explore the timeless beauty of Beethoven's operatic masterpiece.
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: OuvertüreLudwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: "Jaquino, Jaquino!" & "O wär ich schon mit dir vereint (Rocco, Marzelline, Jaquino)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Gottlob Frick, Irmgard Seefried, Friedrich Lenz
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: "Marzelline, ist Fidelio noch nicht zurückgekommen?" (Marzelline, Rocco, Leonore)Ludwig van Beethoven, Ruth Hellberg, Wilhelm Borchert, Anne Kersten
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: MarschLudwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: "Rocco!... Ja, Herr?" (Pizarro, Rocco)Ludwig van Beethoven, Walter Franck, Wilhelm Borchert
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: "Ha, welch ein Augenblick!" (Pizarro, Chor der Wache)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Chor der Bayerische Staatsoper
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: "Hauptmann! Sobald Sie einen Wagen" (Pizarro, Rocco)Ludwig van Beethoven, Walter Franck, Wilhelm Borchert
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: "Jetzt, Alter, jetzt hat es Eile!" (Pizarro, Rocco)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: "Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin?" (Leonore)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Leonie Rysanek
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: "Ich ersuchte Euch schon einigemale" (Leonore, Rocco)Ludwig van Beethoven, Anne Kersten, Wilhelm Borchert
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act I: "Wir wollen mit Vertrauen" (Chor der Gefangenen)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Chor der Bayerische Staatsoper
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Verwegner Alter! Welche Rechte" (Pizarro, Rocco, Chor der Gefangenen, Marzelline, Leonore, Jaquino)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gottlob Frick, Chor der Bayerische Staatsoper, Irmgard Seefried, Leonie Rysanek, Friedrich Lenz
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!" (Florestan)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Ernst Haefliger
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Wie kalt ist es in diesem unterirdischen Gewölbe!" (Leonore, Rocco)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Leonie Rysanek, Gottlob Frick
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Nein, nein, er schläft" (Rocco, Leonore, Florestan)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Gottlob Frick, Leonie Rysanek, Ernst Haefliger
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Euch werde Lohn in bessern Welten" (Florestan, Rocco, Leonore)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Ernst Haefliger, Gottlob Frick, Leonie Rysanek
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Alles ist bereit?" (Pizarro, Rocco)Ludwig van Beethoven, Walter Franck, Wilhelm Borchert
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Er sterbe! Doch er soll erst wissen" (Pizarro, Florestan, Leonore, Rocco)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Ernst Haefliger, Leonie Rysanek, Gottlob Frick
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Vater Rocco, der Herr Minister kommt an" (Jaquino, Rocco, Florestan, Leonore)Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Spier, Wilhelm Borchert, Siegmar Schneider, Anne Kersten
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Meine Leonore, was hast du für mich getan!" & "O namenlose Freude!" (Florestan, Leonore)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Ernst Haefliger, Leonie Rysanek
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Heil sei dem Tag, Heil sei der Stunde" (Chor der Gefangenen und des Volkes, Fernando, Rocco, Pizarro, Leonore, Marzelline)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Chor der Bayerische Staatsoper, Keith Engen, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Leonie Rysanek, Irmgard Seefried
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Du schlossest auf des Edlen Grab" (Fernando)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Keith Engen
Fidelio, Op. 72, Act II: "Wer ein holdes Weib errungen" (Chor, Florestan, Leonore, Marzelline, Jaquino, Fernando, Rocco, Pizarro)Ludwig van Beethoven, Bavarian State Orchestra, Ferenc Fricsay, Chor der Bayerische Staatsoper, Ernst Haefliger, Leonie Rysanek, Irmgard Seefried, Friedrich Lenz, Keith Engen, Gottlob Frick, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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