Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72

This page lists all recordings of Fidelio, Op. 72, by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) on CD & DVD. Generally, more recent CDs and DVDs are listed first, but with priority given to items that are in stock.

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Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72

Christa Ludwig, Gundula Janowitz, Jon Vickers, Walter Berry, Walter Kreppel, Waldemar Kmentt & Eberhard Wächter

Wiener Staatsopernchor & Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Herbert von Karajan

Never before released (we do not acknowledge pirate productions!), recorded at a single evening's performance (25 May 1962), this Fidelio, under the baton of Herbert von Karajan (who was also responsible for the acclaimed stage production), is remarkable for its spontaneity and sense of theatrical presence.

“This live recording is fascinating, but falls below Karajan’s famed perfectionism, and both Ludwig and Vickers sound less comfortable than with Klemperer. Gundula Janowitz’s Marzelline is a gem, while Ludwig and Vickers even below par are worth hearing for their dramatic conviction.” Sunday Times, 13th April 2008 ***

“An intense, exciting night at the opera, tightly controlled and successfully brought off by Karajan … It’s fascinating to share the experience of such live recordings.” Hermes Opera Lexicon

DG Wiener Staatsoper Live - 4777364

(CD - 2 discs)

£25.99 (£22.12 ex. VAT)

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72

Sung in German

Christine Brewer (Leonore), John Mac Master (Florestan), Daniel Borowski (Don Fernando), Juha Uusitalo (Don Pizarro), Kristinn Sigmundsson (Rocco), Sally Matthews (Marzelline), Andrew Kennedy (Jaquino), Andrew Tortise (1st prisoner) & Darren Jeffrey (2nd prisoner)

London Symphony Chorus & London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis

A high density DSD recording, live at the Barbican Centre on 23-25 May 2005 Slimline double case and perfect bound 72-page booklet in slip case with notes in English, French and German. Libretto in German with English translation.

“Colin Davis may be almost 80 but he's at the height of his powers … the finest performance of Fidelio I have ever heard … … there was no weak link, nor weak moment, in a dazzling evening” ***** The Mail on Sunday (Concert Review)

Format:

Hybrid Multi-channel

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LSO Live - LSO0593

(SACD - 2 discs)

£11.99 (£10.20 ex. VAT)

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72

Staged by Otto Schenk

Gundula Janowitz, Rene Kollo, Lucia Popp & Hans Sotin

Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), Leonard Bernstein

Live from the Wiener Staatsoper January 1978

“Every phrase, every articulation had its meaning, had a quasi-semantic content, so convincing, so right, that at this moment there was barely a question of any other interpretation” (Opernwelt, Hanover)

	Region: 0
	Format: NTSC
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DG - 0734159

(DVD Video)

£19.99 (£17.01 ex. VAT)

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72

Placido Domingo & Waltraud Meier

Staatskapelle Berlin & Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin, Daniel Barenboim

“[...] quite wonderfully played by the Berlin Staatskapelle, one of the great German orchestras which obviously has this music in its blood.”(Hugh Canning, International Record Review, March 2000)

Warner Classics - 3984252492

(CD - 2 discs)

£16.49 (£14.03 ex. VAT)

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72

Elisabeth Söderström, Curt Appelgren, Elizabeth Gale, Robert Allman, Anton De Ridder

Glyndebourne Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, stage direction by Peter Hall

Sir Peter Hall’s outstanding 1979 Glyndebourne Festival Opera production of Fidelio remains remarkably faithful to the way Beethoven intended the opera to be. The stage directions of the original version – completed in 1814 after two revisions – are followed exactly by Sir Peter.