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Opera - Fidelio
The 2001 production of Fidelio at Glyndebourne under Deborah
Warner’s direction was heralded as the ‘must see’
of the year by The Independent. It is revived at Glyndebourne
this season with Warner in the driving seat once again, accompanied
by two of the most prolific conductors of our time on the
podium – Mark Elder and Edward Gardner. They will conduct
the London Philharmonic Orchestra, in separate performances,
in this acclaimed production of Beethoven’s only opera.
In a nutshell, Fidelio tells the story of Lenore, the courageous
wife, who dresses as a man to become ‘Fidelio’
in an attempt to save the life of her imprisoned husband Florestan.
He is a political prisoner, who has been jailed illegally
for over two years and is being slowly starved to death. The
climax of the opera comes when Lenore prevents her husband’s
execution, reveals her true identity, and they are ecstatically
reunited.
Dark and oppressive prison scenes are the order of the day
and if some critics found Warner’s set a bit too messy
or grungy first time round they may do so again. Famously
committed to liberty and freedom as Beethoven was, this opera
could have been set in any period of our history, and indeed
echoes of Guantanomo Bay resound for a modern audience. Lenore/Fidelio
is powerfully played by the German soprano Anja Kampe, and
Florestan is played by the German tenor Torsten Kerl. KA
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