Release Date: 30 September 2005
Label: Naxos - Historical / Naxos Historical
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 747313302024
Genres: Classical
Composer/Series: BEETHOVEN
Description
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)FidelioBorn in Bonn in 1770, Beethoven received his earlymusical education from his father, a singer, and severalmediocre teachers. When only nine years old he becamepupil and assistant to the court organist to the Elector ofBonn. He travelled to Vienna in 1786 with the intentionof studying with Mozart, but, with his mother's finalillness, was recalled to Bonn, where he played the violain the court orchestra, and found a patron in CountWaldstein, among others. Haydn, visiting Bonn in1792, saw some of his compositions and invited him tostudy with him in Vienna. Beethoven moved there inthat year and first lived in the household of PrinceLichnowsky. At this time he was known primarily as avirtuoso improviser at the keyboard. His fame as acomposer was established with the publication in 1795of his Opus 1 piano trios. He remained in Vienna for therest of his life, producing a steady stream of music in allthe principal forms. From 1798 onwards he sufferedfrom increasing deafness, which may explain why henever married. His Third Symphony, the Eroica, wasoriginally dedicated to Napoleon, but the composerwithdrew this on hearing that Napoleon had declaredhimself Emperor. The Fifth and Sixth Symphonies werefirst performed at the same concert in 1808. Two of hisgreatest works were the Ninth Symphony, which brokegeneral precedent by including a chorus and soloists inthe finale, and the Missa Solemnis. Both were firstperformed in 1824. He was held in the highest esteem inVienna, and in 1815 the city conferred its honoraryfreedom on him. When he died in 1827, his funeral wasan occasion for national mourning.Beethoven's significance in the history of music isimmense. He democratised the r?â??le of the composer,writing music out of inner necessity rather than tocommission. He was not a quick worker and oftenstruggled to develop his ideas. Fidelio, his only opera,was first performed in Vienna with himself conductingin 1805, and underwent revision during the followingyear and in 1814. In it Beethoven took a popularoperatic genre of the time, the 'rescue opera', andcreated a work which completely transcended the formsand expectations of the period. Fidelio is a passionatehymn to married love, a state which the composerhimself yearned for but never achieved, a searingindictment of the dangers of absolute power, and a bolddeclaration of freedom which has spoken continuouslyto oppressed societies since it was first composed.The plot is straightforward: Leonore has disguisedherself as a youth Fidelio and has become assistant tothe jailer Rocco, in the hope of finding her imprisonedhusband Florestan. Rocco's daughter, Marzelline, is inlove with Fidelio, to the annoyance of her suitor,Jacquino. The prison governor Pizarro learns of animpending inspection and decides to kill Florestan.Rocco refuses to carry out the murder but agrees to digthe grave. Leonore learns of the plot, and as theprisoners emerge into the sunlight, searches in vain f
Tracklisting
Lotte Lehmann
Lotte Lehmann
Lehmann:Ulanowsky
Lehmann
Lehmann
Landowska
Kriesler
Kreisler
