Beethoven's Only Opera

As part of their commemorations marking 200 years since the world lost Ludwig Van Beethoven, Scottish Opera set the scene for a magnificent staging of Fidelio, his only opera. Directed by Ruth Knight with design by Alisa Kalyanova and Yannis Thavoris, the magnificent production strengthens the opera's original themes of love and liberty, with Julia Sporsen in the role of Leonore / Fidelio and Thorbjorn Gulbrandsoy as Florestan.

What is the story?

Florestan sits in a jail cell, lamenting his current state. Imprisoned when he attempted to uncover the unsavory political machinations of the prison governor Don Pizarro, no one knows he is here, save for his wife, Leonore. Afraid for her husband, Leonore takes a job as an underling to the jailer Rocco, creating a new identity as a boy. Under the new name Fidelio, she toils for two years in his service, all the while hatching a plan for Florestan's rescue. With themes of courage, corruption, love and freedom abound, this opera is a truly soaring masterpiece.