Fidelio

Amidst the many stories of strong and heroic men, a work where true strength and resolution are embodied by a woman – even if she must disguise herself as a man to achieve her goal – always raises fascinating questions. Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera brings together multiple traditions: it incorporates the Singspiel (a musical drama with spoken dialogue), an almost fairy-tale-like happy ending, the legacy of Viennese classicism, and a foreshadowing of Romantic grandeur. At the same time, it stands as one of the most iconic examples of rescue opera, in which a wife, Leonore – disguised as Fidelio – fights to save her unjustly imprisoned husband, Florestan.

The opera follows a long-standing tradition by collaborating with major international opera houses or adopting productions to offer the Budapest audience a taste of European performances. Following last year’s Don Giovanni from Berlin, this time it presents a production from London’s Royal Ballet and Opera, directed by Tobias Kratzer, who is set to become the director of the Hamburg Opera from the 2025/26 season. His staging masterfully blends traditional and modern elements in an exciting way, under the baton of Péter Halász. The production was a resounding success in London, making it a great privilege that it will be the Budapest audience to experience it first internationally outside the UK.