Description
Beethoven composed a total of four overtures for his sole opera, "Leonore"/"Fidelio." The so-called Leonore Overture No. 1, written in 1806/07 for an unrealized performance in Prague, is the third in the chronological series. For a long time, it was mistakenly viewed as a precursor to the Leonore Overture No. 2 that Beethoven discarded, which significantly tarnished its reception. However, a fresh, impartial examination of this overture reveals its merits. Substantially shorter than Overtures No. 2 and 3, it has a more lyrical than dramatic character, shedding new light on Beethoven's efforts to find the ideal opening for his stage work. Featuring a new preface, this study edition is based on the musical text from the Beethoven Complete Edition.
