Fidelio

CONTENT

Fidelio is based on a story by the French writer Bouilly. Meaning “Conjugal love,” it is a tale of redemption and love between a husband and wife. Beethoven chose for his librettist a famous writer of his day named Treitschke.

Opera contains Beethoven's most important values; brotherhood, marital commitment and triumph.Beethoven was a fan of the “Enlightened” outlook, which treasured triumph over injustice as the greatest ideal of man. Fidelio contains a stalwart wife, her noble husband, a Prince and an evil tyrant. It is an adaption of a French Revolution tale.

Fidelio is a “rescue opera (an opera that contains a plot of persecution where good triumphs over evil) which is based on a heroic character who is a supporter of individual merits.Opera ends with the message that being virtuous and good is the only way to win.In this case Fidelio has very tight relation with French Revolution.Fundamental elements of French Revolution; having strong moral virtues, strong critical point of view and resisting challenges without fear.Beethoven highlights the importance of human being and individual achievements without the help of chance.This situation can be considered as the dominant effect of French Revolution.After French Revolution individualism became the most prominent factor which shapes the political system and the society.Fidelio also supported the movement from the individual to the community.