by Clarke Fountain
synopsis
Fidelio is an opera by Ludwig Von Beethoven which, like the dialogue in many of Shakespeare's lesser-known plays, is better-known from excerpts, such as the Leonora Overture. The reason is simply that as an opera, Fidelio is not outstandingly entertaining, though there is nothing wrong with the music, and many opera fans are particularly devoted to this work. Karl Bohm conducts the chorus and orchestra of the Deusche Oper Berlin. Gwyneth Jones has the role of Leonore, and James King and Josef Greindl have the roles of Florestan and Rocco. In this film, the opera is sung in German.
