from Act II, Scene 1 of the German opera Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven

Libretto: Joseph Sonnleithner

Role: Florestan, a prisoner, the husband of Leonora

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: dramatic tenor/heldentenor

Setting: The dungeon of a prison near Seville

Synopsis: Imprisoned and close to death, Florestan sings that even though his life is now joyless, he can find solace because he has done his duty and he knows that what he did was right. He then thinks that he sees a vision of his wife Leonora coming as an angel to lead him to heaven.

from Act I, Scene 6 of the German opera Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven

Libretto: Joseph Sonnleithner

Role: Leonora, the wife of Florestan, using the name "Fidelio"

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: dramatic soprano

Setting: The courtyard of a prison close to Seville

Synopsis: Leonora overhears Pizarro talking to Rocco about killing a prisoner whom she believes is her husband, Florestan. She wonders how he can be so cruel, but soon decides that love will help her overcome his evil plans.

from Act I, Scene 2 of the German opera Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven

Libretto: Joseph Sonnleithner

Role: Marzelline, the daughter of Rocco, the jailer

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric soprano

Setting: The courtyard of a prison close to Seville

Synopsis: Marzelline has fallen in love with her father's assistant, Fidelio. She sings of her joy and describes how their life will be together.

from Act I, Scene 5 of the German opera Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven

Libretto: Joseph Sonnleithner

Role: Pizarro, the overseer of the prison

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: dramatic baritone

Setting: The courtyard of a prison close to Seville

Synopsis: Pizarro is holding Florestan illegally as a prisoner deep in his dungeons. He has received a letter that the Minister (Fernando) will soon be arriving and will be inspecting the prison to make sure that every prisoner is being legally held. Pizarro knows that he will be in deep trouble if Florestan is found so he decides that he will solve everything by killing Florestan immediately.

from Act I, Scene 4 of the German opera Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven

Libretto: Joseph Sonnleithner

Role: Rocco, a jailer

Voice Part: bass       Fach: heavy bass

Setting: The courtyard of a prison close to Seville

Synopsis: Fidelio (who is really Leonora) has done a good job for Rocco. Rocco promises Fidelio that he will reward Fidelio by betrothing Fidelio to his daughter, Marzelline. He sings that a happy marriage needs one more thing besides love, though, and that is gold. He sings that gold makes a happy house and, without gold, love means nothing. Who can be happy if you are hungry all the time?