Description:

Pros:

• Hearing the original version of Fidelio is a fascinating glimpse into Beethoven’s compositional technique as well as a lesson in dramatic pacing. Although there are some beautiful numbers that Beethoven deleted for the final version, you can see how they distort the flow of the drama.
• Hilde Zadek is radiant as Leonore.
• Despite being on the lighter end of the vocal spectrum, Anton Dermota delivers a poised Florestan (and benefits from the kinder tessitura of Beethoven’s earlier version.)
• Paul Schöffler is a formidable Pizzaro.

Cons:

• Nothing to mention

In Mono

OD 11551-2