Composer of the Week: Beethoven: Fulfilling a Dream

Donald Macleod explores Beethoven's only opera Fidelio and songs including An die Hoffnung op 94, with conductor Simone Young and pianist Iain Burnside. Fidelio was an immense struggle for Beethoven and when the premiere finally arrived in 1805, it was under the dark cloud of occupation of Vienna by Napoleon and his army. The scale and vision of the opera found its way into some of Beethoven's most ambitious song-writing to date. Music, Love and Wine, Catrin Wyn Davies (soprano), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Thomas Allen (baritone). La Tiranna WoO 125, Pamela Coburn (soprano), Leonard Hokanson (piano). Fidelio (Act 1) O welche Lust, in freier Luft (Prisoner's Chorus). Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Berlin Philharmonic, Simon Rattle (director). Fidelio (Act 1) Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin? Birgit Nilsson (soprano), Leonore Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra, Erich Kleiber (conductor). Fidelio (Act 2) Introduction and Aria Gott! Welch' Dunkel hier! In des Lebens Frühlingstagen, Jonas Kaufmann (tenor). Florestan Mahler Chamber Orchestra/Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Claudio Abbado (conductor). An die Hoffnung, op 94. John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Iain Burnside (piano)