Rene Girad

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.

Between René Urtreger and Agnès Desarthe the story is written in several chapters. First, their first meeting followed by regular interviews that allow the writer to collect the confidences of the pianist. From these elements she wrote a superb biography entitled "King René". In the wake of the many meetings that preceded the writing of the book, the pianist discovers the interest of Agnès Desarthe for the music she learned and practiced in her youth. From there the events are linked. During a literary festival (in Nevers) and presentations of the book (in Paris to the Duke of Lombards) the two accomplices have the opportunity to meet in music around piano and microphone.