Leonore Ouvertyr nr 3

Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, had a stormy inception. He revised it three times, writing a new overture for each version. On its original premiere on 20 November 1805 – in the midst of the French occupation of Vienna – the opera was titled Leonore. The following year, Beethoven revised and significantly shortened the work but after its premiere this new version too was cancelled due to a disagreement between the composer and the theatre management. It is the overture to this version that we now know as No. 3. A production was planned for Prague in 1808 but never premiered. The final version was first performed on 23 May 1814. Given all the difficulties he experienced with Fidelio, it is hardly surprising that Beethoven kept well away from opera for the rest of his life.