Lyric Opera 2024-2025 Issue 2 - Fidelio

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 20 Background Florestan, a fighter for freedom, has been unjustly imprisoned and silenced by his enemy, Pizarro, the governor of a state prison used to detain political prisoners. There he is slowly being tortured and starved to death. Florestan’s wife, Leonore, believing her husband to still be alive, makes it her mission to find and free him. Disguised as a young man, Fidelio, she is employed by the chief jailer, Rocco, as his assistant. ACT I Scene 1. The young prison employee Jaquino courts Marzelline in vain, for she has fallen in love with Fidelio. Her father, Rocco, also wants a union between his daughter and Fidelio and hopes for the governor’s permission to use the latter as a helper with the secret prisoners. Marzelline fears that Fidelio won’t be able to bear all the misery that such work entails, but Leonore knows she must have courage and strength to carry out her secret plan—the rescue of her husband. Scene 2. Pizarro receives news from a friend that the minister, Don Fernando, intends a surprise inspection of the prison. Fearing that Florestan will be found, he resolves to have him killed. A soldier is posted on the guard tower to give a signal as soon as the minister is sighted. Rocco, while not willing to be a murderer, agrees to hold his tongue for money and later hide Florestan’s body in a ruined cistern. Leonore, who has overheard the plan to murder a prisoner, resolves to save him, whoever he may be. At her request, Rocco allows some of the prisoners to go into the courtyard. Leonore is distressed that Florestan is not among them. Pizarro, furious at Rocco’s independent actions, has the prisoners locked up again. INTERMISSION PRODUCTION SPONSORS The Negaunee Foundation Anonymous Patricia A. Kenney & Gregory J. O’Leary MAESTRO ENRIQUE MAZZOLA IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY MEMBERS OF THE ENRIQUE CIRCLE Alice & John Butler H. Gael Neeson Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation Lyric Opera of Chicago gratefully acknowledges the support of the Irma Parker German Opera Endowed Chair. A San Francisco Opera production. Scenery construction and painting by the San Francisco Opera Scene Shop. Costumes fabricated by the San Francisco Opera Costume Shop. Supertitles for Fidelio by Christopher Bergen are provided by the San Francisco Opera Association. Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline,American Airlines. APPROXIMATE TIMINGS This production will be performed with one intermission. Act I 1 hour 10 minutes Intermission 25 minutes Act II 50 minutes TOTAL 2 hours 25 minutes LYRIC’S 2024/25 SEASON IS PRESENTED BY Erika Gross in loving memory of Dietrich Gross Julie & Roger Baskes Synopsis TIME | Distant Past or Near Future PLACE | Undisclosed Prison Facility I i I i i i II i i LYRIC’S 2024/25 SEASON IS PRESENTED BY Erika ross in loving e ory of Dietrich ross Julie & Roger Baskes