Beethoven’s Leonore (1805)
Opera Lafayette Season 2019-2020
The centerpiece of Opera Lafayette’s 25th-anniversary season is Beethoven’s Leonore (1805), the composer’s first version of his opera Fidelio. The company’s first opera sung in German and its largest production to date, these performances are the culmination of Opera Lafayette’s Leonore Project, which aims to recapture the origins of this touchstone of the operatic canon.
The story of bravery and injustice speaks to us today. A wife disguised as a man seeks to rescue her husband, wrongfully imprisoned and awaiting his death. The score, filled with heartbreaking arias, delightful love duets, and transcendent choral and instrumental works, is recognized as among the most powerful opera compositions.
The season’s production of the Beethoven’s Leonore follows the company’s 2017 modern premiere of Gaveaux and Bouilley’s Léonore, ou L’Amour conjugal (1798), which was released earlier this year on DVD on the Naxos label. Drawing from memories of Opera Lafayette’s acclaimed performance or after watching the DVD, audiences will have a unique opportunity to hear the closer relationship between these two works.
Performances sung in German with English Supertitles
Purchase and view more photos here.
Souvenir Book
This souvenir book was a companion to the program book for our production of Beethoven’s Leonore. The booklet explains The Leonore Project which began in 2017 with the modern premiere of Gaveaux’s Léonore, ou L’Amour conjugal, based on the same source material. It features program notes for both operas by Julia Doe and Nizam Kettaneh, and an essay by Will Crutchfield, who explains how he used Beethoven’s sketches to re-image the missing pieces of Florestan’s aria from Beethoven’s 1805 version. Opera Lafayette commissioned this reimaging on the occasion of Opera Lafayette’s 25th-anniversary season and the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. Influences and Enigmas – Developing a Modern Premiere and a Reimagined Aria showcases Opera Lafayette’s commitment to musical preservation and scholarly exploration.
Modern Premiere | New Edition
Ryan Brown, Conductor
Opera Lafayette Orchestra and Chorus
Oriol Tomas, Stage Director
Laurence Mongeau, Set and Costume Designer
Rob Siler, Lighting Designer
Nathalie Paulin, Leonore
Jean-Michel Richer, Florestan
Stephen Hegedus*, Rocco
Pascale Beaudin, Marcelline
Matthew Scollin, Pizarro
Keven Geddes, Jaquino
Alexandre Sylvestre, Don Fernando
*Opera Lafayette Debut
#US Debut
ReviewS / Articles
“The appeal of Leonore” | Read Full Article (English) | Opéra Forum | Yvan Beuvard, March 29, 2021
“Beethoven in Film, Fernsehen und auk DVD” | Read Full Article (German) | Read Full Article (English) | Frankfurter Allgemeine | Von Anja-Rosa-Thoming, December 17, 2020
“On Beethoven's 250th Birthday, Never Before Heard Third Act Aria In Opera Lafayette's Leonore” | Read Full Article | Broadway World, February 3, 2020
“Brown demonstrated his masterful command of the Opera Lafayette Orchestra.” | Read Full Review | Susan Galbraith, DC Theatre Scene, February 28, 2020
“A thoroughly enjoyable performance: a rarity these days.” | Read Full Review | Gary Shengold, Gay City News, March 4, 2020
“Sitting Down with Opera Lafayette’s Ryan Brown” | Read Full Article | Michael Rogers, Opera Gene, February 13, 2020
“Opera Lafayette Marks Milestone With Beethoven’s Leonore” | Read Full Article | Patrick McCoy, Early Music America, February 24, 2020
“You will be lucky, dear Reader, to snag a ticket and you will thank me.” | Read Full Review | Meche Krupp, Voce di Meche, March 3, 2020
“Opera Lafayette is celebrating its silver anniversary in style.” | Read Full Review | Charles Downey, Washington Classical Review,
February 27, 2020
“Opera Lafayette’s highly welcome production of Leonore…gave Beethoven enthusiasts much food for thought.” | Read Full Review |
George Loomis, Musical America, March 9. 2020
Opera Lafayette Performs Beethoven’s Leonore | Listen to Interview | Classical Conversations, WETA, February 2020
Interview with Will Crutchfield | Listen to Interview | Indie Opera Podcast, February 2020
“I applaud Opera Lafayette and Ryan Brown for their work here.” | Read Full Review | Peter Sczep, Indie Opera Podcast, March 6, 2020
“Music lovers should seize this rare opportunity to see Beethoven’s first (1805) version of Fidelio…” | Read Full Review | Ralph P. Locke, The Arts Fuse, February 27, 2020
Performed
Washington, DC:
Wednesday, February 26, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
The Eisenhower Theater, The Kennedy Center
New York City:
Monday, March 2, 2020, 7:00pm
Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College
Explore more performances from Opera Lafayette past seasons.