Leonore

Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio (1814), had a difficult birth, and this recording allows us to hear the composer’s first thoughts when the work was unveiled as Leonore in 1805. The most striking thing about Leonore is that it contains a lot more music and certain characters—most notably Marzelline—have a more important role. The later version is considerably tauter, but there’s much to enjoy here, not least René Jacobs’ natural dramatic instincts. Marlis Petersen and Maximilian Schmitt make an impressive central couple while Robin Johannsen is a delightful Marzelline. The other roles are strongly cast, making a powerful case for this Beethoven rarity.

The ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra is one of four major orchestral ensembles based in Vienna, the others being the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, and Vienna Symphony Orchestra. The ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, or ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, is unique because it is the only radio symphony orchestra in Austria and is thus the official Austrian broadcast orchestra.

The original 1805 version of Beethoven's only opera is a high-adrenaline experience in the hands of the Belgian conductor and his period-instrument band, with Marlis Petersen in the title-role and Maximilian Schmitt as her imprisoned husband. From Leonore (1805) to Fidelio (1814) there were three successive versions of Beethoven’s opera, only the last of which has been in the repertory since the 19th Century. Going against tradition, René Jacobs has chosen to revive the earliest version, reworking the librettos and the spoken dialogue: a genuine tour de force, this still unknown Leonore forms an incomparable musical and dramatic structure requiring exemplary mastery on the part of both orchestra and singers. This landmark recording proves its case in every respect.

This extraordinary CD features an interesting chapter in music history that has given rise to many a speculation: Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera, Leonore, in the world-premiere recording of the version of 1806.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Leonore (Version 1806, aka 'Fidelio')
Pamela Coburn / Kölner Rundfunkchor / Orchester der Beethovenhalle Bonn / Marc Soustrot
2xCD | EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 537 MB | Full Artwork: 153 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 337 0826-2 | Country/Year: Germany 1998
Genre: Classical | Style: Classical Period, Opera

"The work we cherish as Fidelio was Beethoven’s final rewrite, after an eight-year gap, of an opera he’d first composed in 1805 and revised the following year. The two first attempts, collectively known as Leonore, are hugely instructive glimpses into Beethoven’s workshop. The 1806 version has generally been ignored in favour of occasional performances of the 1805 score, as notably recorded in 1997 by John Eliot Gardiner. This premiere recording of the 1806 version is therefore of exceptional interest…" ~classical-music.com

Ludwig van Beethoven - Leonore (Version 1806)
Pamela Coburn / Kölner Rundfunkchor / Orchester der Beethovenhalle Bonn / Marc Soustrot
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 536 MB | Full Artwork: 153 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: MDG "Gold" # 337 0826-2 | Country/Year: Germany 1998
Genre: Classical | Style: Classical Period, Opera

The work we cherish as Fidelio was Beethoven’s final rewrite, after an eight-year gap, of an opera he’d first composed in 1805 and revised the following year. The two first attempts, collectively known as Leonore, are hugely instructive glimpses into Beethoven’s workshop. The 1806 version has generally been ignored in favour of occasional performances of the 1805 score, as notably recorded in 1997 by John Eliot Gardiner. This premiere recording of the 1806 version is therefore of exceptional interest. Gardiner patched in with some later material, but this version is complete in itself and benefits from researches in the Beethoven Archive in Bonn…