Fidelio in Full Score

Beethoven'sonlyopera，Fidelioisaunique，enduringmasterpieceofloyalty，unselfishlove，andthehumanspirit—thestoryofthefaithfulLeonorawhoriskseverythingtofreeherhusband，Florestan，fromunjustimprisonment.Thoughtheplotlineandtheformofthelibrettoarefarfromunique，Beethoven—afteradecadeofunceasingrevision—wasabletoriseabovethelimitationsofthematerialandinfuseitwithtranscendentnobility.
"Ofallmychildren，"thecomposersaid，"thisistheonethatcostmewithworstbirthpangs...andforthatreasonitistheonemostdeartome."AudiencesandmusicianshavelongsharedBeethoven'ssentiments，makingFideliooneofthemostperformed，moststudied，mostrecordedoperasofalltime.ThisreliableeditionfromDoverreproducesthefullorchestralandvocalscore，withamplespaceinthemarginsforanalyticalnotation.Inonesturdilybound，inexpensivevolume，hereisBeethoven'sgeniusfororchestrationcombinedwiththedramaofthehumanvoiceinchoruses，duets，emotion-filledarias，andanintensefinale.Morethananythingelse，theidealisticthemesoftheopera—justice，freedom，heroism，love—inspiredBeethoventotranscendthelibrettoandforgeamusicalstructurethatfarsurpassestheliteraryfoundationonwhichitisbuilt.Whetherinahumorousaria，suchas"HatmanauchnichtGeldbeineben，"oragloriousfour-partcanon，suchas"Miristsowunderbar，"themusiccarriesthewordstoaplanefarbeyondthemselves.ReprintedinitsentiretyfromtheauthoritativeC.F.Petersedition，thisfaithfuleditionofthewell-lovedFideliowilldelightmusiclovers，operaenthusiasts，Beethovendevotees，teachers，andstudents—notleastofallforitsremarkablyaffordableprice.