Who composed Fidelio?

Who composed Fidelio?

• A. Beethoven
• B. Mendelssohn
• C. Chopin
• D. Wagner

Answer: (A)

Fidelio is the work of Ludwig van Beethoven, and it stands out because it is his only opera. Beethoven composed the original version, which premiered in 1805 in Vienna under the title Leonore, and later revised it for a successful 1814 production titled Fidelio. This opera is known for its themes of bravery, justice, and fidelity, and it sits squarely in the early 19th-century Romantic era in Beethoven’s output. The other composers listed—Mendelssohn, Chopin, and Wagner—are from different strands of the Romantic period or specialized in other forms of music, and none wrote Fidelio.

Fidelio is the work of Ludwig van Beethoven, and it stands out because it is his only opera. Beethoven composed the original version, which premiered in 1805 in Vienna under the title Leonore, and later revised it for a successful 1814 production titled Fidelio. This opera is known for its themes of bravery, justice, and fidelity, and it sits squarely in the early 19th-century Romantic era in Beethoven’s output. The other composers listed—Mendelssohn, Chopin, and Wagner—are from different strands of the Romantic period or specialized in other forms of music, and none wrote Fidelio.