111020-21 bk FidelioEU 08/09/2005 16:14 Page 12 BEETHOVEN Also available: Fidelio m Furtwä el ng ilh le W r 1 953 Recording Martha Mödl • Wolfgang Windgassen 8.660070-71 Gottlob Frick • Otto Edelmann • Sena Jurinac Vienna State Opera Chorus Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Wilhelm Furtwängler 8.111020-21 12 111020-21 bk FidelioEU 08/09/2005 16:14 Page 2 Mark Obert-Thorn Mark Obert-Thorn is one of the world’s most respected transfer artist/engineers. He has worked for a number of specialist labels, including Pearl, Biddulph, Romophone and Music & Arts. Three of his transfers have been Great Opera Recordings nominated for Gramophone Awards. A pianist by training, his passions are music, history and working on projects. He has found a way to combine all three in the transfer of historical recordings. Ludwig Van Obert-Thorn describes himself as a ‘moderate interventionist’ rather than a ‘purist’ or ‘re-processor,’ unlike those who apply significant additions and make major changes to the acoustical qualities of old recordings. His BEETHOVEN philosophy is that a good transfer should not call attention to itself, but rather allow the performances to be heard (1770-1827) with the greatest clarity. There is no over-reverberant ‘cathedral sound’ in an Obert-Thorn restoration, nor is there the tinny bass and piercing mid-range of many ‘authorised’ commercial issues. He works with the cleanest available 78s, and Fidelio consistently achieves better results than restoration engineers working with the metal parts from the archives of the Opera in Two Acts modern corporate owners of the original recordings. His transfers preserve the original tone of the old recordings, Libretto by Joseph Sonnleithner and Friedrich Treitschke maximising the details in critical upper mid-range and lower frequencies to achieve a musical integrity that is based on the French drama by J. N. Bouilly absent from many other commercially released restorations. Leonore . Martha Mödl (soprano) Florestan . Wolfgang Windgassen (tenor) Rocco . Gottlob Frick (bass) Don Pizarro . Otto Edelmann (baritone) Don Fernando . Alfred Poell (baritone) Marzelline . Sena Jurinac (soprano) Jaquino . Rudolf Schock (tenor) First Prisoner . Alwin Hendricks (tenor) Second Prisoner . Franz Bierbach (bass) Vienna State Opera Chorus Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Wilhelm Furtwängler Recorded 13th – 17th October, 1953 in the Musikvereinsaal, Vienna First issued as HMV ALP 1130 through 1132 Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn The Naxos historical label aims to make available the greatest recordings in the history of recorded music, in the best and truest sound that contemporary technology can provide. To achieve this aim, Naxos has engaged a number of respected restorers who have the dedication, skill and experience to produce restorations that have set new standards in the field of historical recordings. 8.111020-21 2 11 8.111020-21 111020-21 bk FidelioEU 08/09/2005 16:14 Page 10 the brotherhood of man. Rocco pushes through the Grab / You opened his grave]. # Finally the prisoners CD 1 71:18 # Ach! Vater, eilt! 7:34 crowd, followed by Leonore and Florestan, ignoring and people sing praise of the woman who has rescued (Marzelline, Rocco, Jaquino, Leonore, Pizarro, Pizarro’s protests. Don Fernando is astonished to see her husband [Wer ein holdes Weib errungen / He who 1 Overture 6:38 Chorus) Florestan, whom he thought dead and still more amazed has won a beloved wife], joined by all in general (Orchestra) to see Leonore, dressed as a boy. Rocco explains what rejoicing. has happened, how Pizarro planned to murder Florestan Act I 64:40 CD 2 62:50 and how Leonore had disguised herself and intervened. Keith Anderson @ To popular approval Pizarro is taken away and 2 Duet: Jetzt, Schätzchen, jetzt sind wir allein 5:12 Act II 62:50 Leonore, at Don Fernando’s command, frees her A libretto may be accessed at (Jaquino, Marzelline) husband from his fetters [Du schlossest auf des Edlen www.naxos.com/libretti/fidelio.htm. 1 Introduction 4:08 3 Aria: O wär’ ich schon mit dir vereint 4:41 (Orchestra) (Marzelline) 2 Aria: Gott! Welch’ Dunkel hier! 7:33 4 Quartet: Mir ist so wunderbar 4:46 (Florestan) (Marzelline, Leonore, Rocco, Jaquino) 3 Melodrama: Wie kalt ist es in diesem 2:17 5 Aria: Hat man nicht auch Gold beineben 2:58 unterirdischen Gewölbe! (Rocco) (Leonore, Rocco) 6 Trio: Gut, Söhnchen, gut, hab’ immer Mut 7:22 4 Duet: Nun hurtig fort, nur frisch gegraben 4:37 (Rocco, Leonore, Marzelline) (Rocco, Leonore) 7 March 2:16 5 Trio: Euch werde Lohn in bessern Welten! 6:43 (Orchestra) (Florestan, Rocco, Leonore) 8 Aria with Chorus: Ha! Welch’ ein Augenblick! 6 Quartet: Er sterbe! Doch er soll erst wissen 3:52 (Pizarro, Chorus) 3:24 (Pizarro, Florestan, Leonore, Rocco) 9 Duet: Jetzt, Alter, jetzt hat es Eile! 4:59 7 Dialogue: Vater Rocco! Vater Rocco! 1:33 (Pizarro, Rocco) (Jaquino, Rocco) Es schlägt der Rache Stunde! 0 Recitative and Aria: (Leonore, Florestan, Pizarro, Rocco) Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin? 7:59 (Leonore) 8 Duet: O namenlose Freude! 2:49 (Leonore, Florestan) ! Finale: O welche Lust! 7:28 (Chorus, First Prisoner, Second Prisoner) 9 Leonore Overture No. 3 (Orchestra) 15:26 @ Nun sprecht, wie ging’s? 6:01 (Leonore, Rocco) 0 Finale: Heil! Heil sei dem Tag 2:00 (Chorus) 8.111020-21 10 3 8.111020-21 111020-21 bk FidelioEU 08/09/2005 16:14 Page 4 ! Des besten Königs Wink und Wille 3:54 CD 2 All is ready, and Rocco gives the agreed signal, (Don Fernando, Chorus, Rocco, Pizarro, Leonore, which Florestan realises is the presage of his own death. Marzelline) Act II Leonore tries to reassure him. Pizarro appears, cloaked, telling Rocco not to free Florestan from his chains, as @ Du schlossest auf des Edlen Grab 3:54 1 The second act opens in a dark dungeon, set deep in time presses. 6 Pizarro draws his dagger and casts (Don Fernando, Leonore, Florestan, Marzelline, the prison. To the left is a disused cistern, covered with aside his cloak, revealing his identity as Pizarro, the Rocco, Chorus) stones and rubble. In the background can be seen man Florestan had sought to overthrow [Er sterbe! various barred openings in the walls, through which Doch er soll erst wissen / He dies! Yet first he must # Wer ein holdes Weib errungen 4:04 stairs are visible, leading down from above and ending know]. He makes to stab Florestan but Leonore (Chorus, Florestan, Leonore, Marzelline, Jaquino, to the right, by the door to the cell. There is a lamp intervenes, telling him he must first kill her, Florestan’s Don Fernando, Rocco) burning. Florestan, shackled by chains to the wall, is wife. The revelation amazes all three who hear it, but sitting on a stone. 2 In a recitative he laments his fate Pizarro then resolves to kill both of them. Leonore [Gott! Welch Dunkel hier! / God, what darkness is draws a small pistol, threatening him, and at this here!), resigned to suffering. In the following aria he moment the trumpet signal is heard, announcing the recalls earlier happiness, seeming to see an angel, his approach of the Minister. Florestan is saved, and wife Leonore, leading him to freedom in Heaven. He Pizarro’s schemes confounded. 7 Jaquino appears, sinks down, his face buried in his hands. By the light of with officers and soldiers on the steps, announcing the a lantern Rocco and Leonore are seen descending the Minister’s arrival [Vater Rocco! Vater Rocco! / Father steps, bringing with them a jug and the tools they need. Rocco, Father Rocco!]. Rocco calls back to him, telling 3 In a melodrama, their words spoken against the the men to bring torches down and escort the Governor accompaniment of the orchestra, Leonore shudders at away. In a quartet [Es schlägt der Rache Stunde / The the cold [Wie kalt ist es in diesem unterirdischen hour of revenge sounds] Leonore and Florestan express Gewölbe / How cold it is in this underground vault]. their joy, Pizarro his dismay and Rocco his They see Florestan not moving, perhaps dead, but then astonishment. As Pizarro makes to rush away, Rocco he moves, to the relief of Leonore, who joins Rocco in signals for him to be followed, joins the hands of the the work of uncovering the disused cistern. In an aside couple and hurries after him. 8 Florestan and Leonore she declares her intention of rescuing the prisoner, but sing of their joy [O namenlose Freude! / O then must join Rocco in his task, [Nun hurtig fort / Now indescribable joy!]. quickly on with it]. Rocco pauses, to drink from the jug, 9 The scene changes, with the sound of Leonore and Florestan stirs, as Leonore sees. Now he speaks and Overture No. 3, to the parade-ground of the castle, with Leonore sees his face. He seeks to know the identity of the statue of the King. Soldiers march in and form an the prison governor, revealed to him by Rocco as open square. 0 Then the Minister Don Fernando Pizarro, and urges the gaoler to send a message to his appears from one side, accompanied by Pizarro and wife Leonore in Seville. Rocco tells him that this is officers. People gather, while from the other side impossible but when he asks for water, Leonore is able Jaquino and Marzelline lead in the prisoners, who kneel Producer’s Note to give him wine to drink. 5 In the following terzetto before the Minister, whom they welcome [Heil! Heil sei Florestan thanks her for the kindness she has shown dem Tag! / Hail! Hail to the day!]. ! Don Fernando The present transfer was made from a combination of British and American LP pressings.