William Dart: Beethoven opera chillingly relevant today
9 May, 2021 05:00 PM
2 minutes to read
Kirstin Sharpin effortlessly conquered the almost Wagnerian demands of her first-act aria as Fidelio. Photo / Supplied
Kirstin Sharpin effortlessly conquered the almost Wagnerian demands of her first-act aria as Fidelio. Photo / Supplied
A full town hall and the presence of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in the audience augured well for Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra s concert presentation of Fidelio. Beethoven s only opera, in keeping with its times, celebrates the invincibility of the human spirit. Today, its tale of murky, repressive politics is chillingly relevant, well caught when director Jacqueline Coats marched her male chorus down the aisle to form a stark line-up of uniforms across the stage.
On
Saturday 8 May the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO)
will present Beethoven’s only opera
Fidelio under
the baton of Music Director Giordano Bellincampi and
featuring an all-star kiwi cast, led by international opera
sensations Kirstin Sharpin and Simon
O’Neill.
Audiences can look forward to
being swept away by Beethoven’s lyrical genius paired
against a story of political and ethical resolve. A
so-called “rescue opera” inspired by a true story of the
French Revolution,
Fidelio tells the story of Leonore
whose husband, Florestan has been secretly imprisoned by his
political rival – the corrupt and dastardly Don Pizarro.
Leonore disguises herself as a young man called Fidelio and,