41 min listen
Into the Light With Beethoven's 'Fidelio'
FromHe Sang/She Sang
ratings:
Length:
37 minutes
Released:
Mar 29, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Revolutionary times call for revolutionary music, and Beethoven was living in revolutionary times. At the beginning of the 19th century, he quickly became disillusioned by Napoleon Bonaparte — a leader who initially seemed concerned with freedom but was ultimately obsessed with his own power. Beethoven's political anguish rang out in his music, as did his deeply-held beliefs about the heroic power of ordinary people.
Beethoven spent more than 10 years revising Fidelio, the only opera he ever wrote. This was about more than music for the great composer. It was about freedom, devotion and the triumph of human dignity over tyranny. In this episode, host Merrin Lazyan speaks with Jessica Phillips, second clarinetist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, about Beethoven's revolutionary sound. We also hear from soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, who sings the lead role of Leonora, about the most moving musical moments in Fidelio.
“O namelose Freude!” (Adrianne Pieczonka and Klaus Florian Vogt):
“Nur hurtig fort, nur frisch gegraben” (Adrianne Pieczonka and Falk Struckmann):
This episode features excerpts from the following album:
Beethoven: Fidelio (Sony Classical, 1996)— Deborah Voigt, soprano; Ben Heppner, tenor; Matthias Hölle, bass; Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, soprano; Michael Schade, tenor; Thomas Quasthoff, bass-baritone; the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Sir Colin Davis.
Beethoven spent more than 10 years revising Fidelio, the only opera he ever wrote. This was about more than music for the great composer. It was about freedom, devotion and the triumph of human dignity over tyranny. In this episode, host Merrin Lazyan speaks with Jessica Phillips, second clarinetist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, about Beethoven's revolutionary sound. We also hear from soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, who sings the lead role of Leonora, about the most moving musical moments in Fidelio.
“O namelose Freude!” (Adrianne Pieczonka and Klaus Florian Vogt):
“Nur hurtig fort, nur frisch gegraben” (Adrianne Pieczonka and Falk Struckmann):
This episode features excerpts from the following album:
Beethoven: Fidelio (Sony Classical, 1996)— Deborah Voigt, soprano; Ben Heppner, tenor; Matthias Hölle, bass; Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz, soprano; Michael Schade, tenor; Thomas Quasthoff, bass-baritone; the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Sir Colin Davis.
Released:
Mar 29, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (24)
Up Close with 'L'Amour de Loin': On this week's episode of He Sang/She Sang, hosts Merrin Lazyan and Mike Shobe get you ready for the new Metropolitan Opera production of L'Amour de Loin. We'll discuss the plot, characters and the music from this 12th century story about a long-distance relationship. Plus, we'll hear from bass-baritone Eric Owens, soprano Susanna Phillips and composer Kaija Saariaho. Mike and Merrin's YouTube picks to get even more familiar with L'Amour de Loin: The Met's trailer for the opera featuring Susanna Phillips, Eric Owens and Tamara Mumford. The Pilgrim (mezzo-soprano Monica Groop) and Clémence, Countess of Tripoli (soprano Dawn Upshaw). This episode features excerpts from the following album: • L'amour de Loin (Harmonia Mundi, 2009) — Daniel Belcher, tenor; Ekaterina Lekhina, soprano; Marie-Ange Todorovitch, mezzo-soprano Like what you heard? Subscribe to He Sang/She Sang on iTunes. by He Sang/She Sang