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Technical Notice
| Classical Composer: | Beethoven, Ludwig van |
|---|---|
| Work: | A Fidelio Symphony (arr. Y. Segal for orchestra) |
| Year Composed: | 2018 |
| Instrumentation: | [2,2,2,2] – [4,2,3,0] – [timp] – [str] |
| Publisher: | Manuscript |
| Duration: | 00:31:00 |
| Period: | Classical (1750-1830) |
| Work Category: | Orchestral |
Work Information
Available Recording(s)
(Fidelio was written by Beethoven between 1804 and 1814, and arranged by Yaniv Segal in 2018.)
Beethoven's genius as an instrumental composer is unmistakable even in his lone opera Fidelio, a work that could aptly be described as a dramatic symphony with voices. To share the music from this infrequently staged work with more audiences, I decided to create a new instrumental-only suite of Fidelio where the vocal lines are incorporated into the symphonic texture, and listeners are taken through the arc of the opera in just over a half hour. The first part of the symphony, Einleitung, opens with music from the original overture (now known as Leonore Overture No. 2) and the enchanting first act quartet (Mir ist so wunderbar). Part II, Aktion, presents the climactic end of Act I, beginning with the transcendent prisoner's chorus (O welche Lust), followed by the dark opening of Act II, where Florestan first despairs (Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!) and later dreams of his love, Leonore—here represented in a special duet between the oboe and cor anglais (an instrument Beethoven did use in his lifetime, albeit very sparingly). The final part, Apotheose, features music from the dramatic and spiritual culminations of Fidelio, including the famous off-stage trumpet call that signals the turning of the tide in the opera, and concludes with Leonore Overtures Nos. 2 and 3.
Writer: Yaniv Segal
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