Beethoven: Fidelio

Nicole Chevalier (Leonore), Eric Cutler (Florestan), Gabor Bretz (Don Pizarro), Christof Fischesser (Rocco), Melissa Petit (Marzelline), Benjamin Hulett (Jaquino), Karoly Szemeredy (Don Fernando), Arnold Schoenberg Chor, Manfred Honeck, Christoph Waltz (director)

Manfred Honeck and Christoph Waltz show nothing but absolute faith in the dramaturgical success of the results...All the leads look and sound the part...Nicole Chevalier and Eric Cutler both... — Gramophone Magazine, February 2021 More…

Release Date: 8th Jan 2021
Catalogue No: 803304
Label: Unitel Editions

Gramophone Magazine

February 2021

DVD/Blu-ray of the Month

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72

Nicole Chevalier, Eric Cutler (tenor), Gabor Bretz, Christof Fischesser, Melissa Petit, Benjamin Hulett (tenor), Karoly Szemeredy
Arnold Schoenberg Chor
Manfred Honeck

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None other than Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz has been engaged for the stage direction of the new production of Fidelio from the Theater an der Wien. There, at one of the oldest opera houses in Vienna, Beethoven was what one would call today a composer-in-residence. And he was this in two respects: here he lived for two years in an apartment in the wing of the building. And it was here that he premiered many of his most famous orchestral works, symphonies and his only opera: Fidelio. In his third opera production Waltz brilliantly stages the second version of the opera in the breathtaking set designed by the German-American architectural practice Barkow Leibinger. The abstract staircase landscape in the form of a double helix, symbolizing prison, extends space into the back theatre and is infinitely changeable in the cinematic lighting concept of Hollywood regular Henry Braham. Manfred Honeck at the rostrum of the dynamic Wiener Symphoniker leads a superb and versatile cast of singers: Nicole Chevalier bewitches vocally and dramatically on her stage debut as Leonore, Eric Cutler gives Florestan a powerful voice. But the production, which was sold out months before, never saw its stage premiere, as the Theater an der Wien sadly had to shut down due to the Covid 19 pandemic a few days before. Thanks to an incredible effort by all participants, the opera house was converted into a film studio at short notice so that Christoph Waltz’s production could be preserved for posterity.

Reviews

February 2021

Manfred Honeck and Christoph Waltz show nothing but absolute faith in the dramaturgical success of the results...All the leads look and sound the part...Nicole Chevalier and Eric Cutler both excel, she in the even trickier fioriture of ‘Komm Hoffnung’ than the 1814 version, he in the more shaded, less black-and-white heroism of Florestan...the pacing throughout is taut and sure, including a good, old-fashioned quick pulse for ‘O namenlose Freude’. Don’t miss it.

May 2021

[Honeck] conducts with patrician authority, and all the great musical numbers are wonderfully judged...Waltz’s production is defined in many ways by a visually striking design..Chevalier sings with glowing focus—the pathos of ‘Komm, Hoffnung’ is heartstopping. Eric Cutler strikes a good balance between heft and lyricism as Florestan...overall this is an even cast fully attuned to the blazing humanity of Beethoven’s opera.

Opera Now March 2021

Waltz’s direction of his singers is predictably adroit...Eric Cutler’s tenor has grown a lot but he retains the lyricism to make his Florestan human – a character that doesn’t really get much stage time to establish personality. Nicole Chevalier’s excellent Leonore also has a more lyrical voice than usual, but it rings loud and clear when needed and she manages that rare feat of looking resolute to us whilst sincere to her fellow characters

Beethoven: Fidelio

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