Ludwig Van Beethoven: Fidelio

Artur Rother

Director:

Gustav Rudolf Sellner



The Deutsche Oper in Berlin had only opened its doors on September 24, 1961, when it began preparing for its 50th anniversary celebrations. How was this possible? Had it fallen into some kind of time loop? This might have been possible for a theater that had previously been dedicated to the works of Richard Wagner. But the explanation was simpler: Berlin's Deutsche Oper had actually opened on November 7, 1912, under the name Deutsches Opernhaus. Beethoven's Fidelio was performed at the opening of the Deutsches Opernhaus in 1912, and it was also chosen for the gala concert on November 7, 1962, documented on this DVD. The conductor of the Deutsche Oper orchestra was a man who had been personally involved in much of the opera house's earlier history – Artur Rother. He had joined the house in 1934, and in the 28 years leading up to the anniversary year, Rother had conducted no fewer than 66 premieres. The production was the responsibility of theater director Gustav Rudolf Sellner and his chief stage designer Wilhelm Reinking. Particular attention was paid to the selection of actors for the gala performance. Singers with international experience but who were still fresh and powerful were chosen for the four leading roles. Christa Ludwig, James King, and Walter Berry also became ideal performers for two of the leading roles in the eyes of the Metropolitan Opera – but only in 1966 and 1971, and Josef Greindl's Rocco was famous in Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, and Berlin.