Beethoven - Fidelio

First performed in 1805 under the title "Leonore", Beethoven's 'Fidelio' is a musically staged triumph of faithful spousal love, whose unconventional potential for unrest the rulers have tried to contain or reinterpret for their own purposes over the centuries. Robert Maschka explains to the interested layman how Beethoven musically translates the basic humanistic ideas in his seemingly simple Singspiel, turning it into a drama of ideas that also captivates today's listeners. But he also informs about the intricate genesis and the ramified reception and performance history of the work.