<<  -- 10 --  Ted and Emi Norrish    DEVOTION AND HEROISM

Such a story and such music do not need a 'clever' or 'unusual' production, with unnecessary curtain drops, or the use of such tricks as the projection of rectangles of light, which reduce to a point and disappear. Leonora's feelings and emotions, for instance, are clear from the music and the words; they do not require, as in this production, a kind of projected dream sequence. Such devices stand in the way of our direct experience of Beethoven's gift. In his view, Fidelio was his greatest achievement.

For all this, the production still plays to packed houses. Perhaps I am unable to detach myself from the experiences of my youth or from memories of hearing Jon Vickers, Christa Ludwig and Klemperer on EMI. But it is also significant that the only true audience 'roar' of the evening greeted Maestro Zubin Mehta and the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra for their shattering performance of the Leonora No 3 Overture. which was played before the final scene. This was truly memorable.

Returning home, we felt that there would be more Fidelios; but that the Friday evening in the Herkulessaal was, as Thucydides said of his History, a 'possession for evermore'. Thank you, Munich, for everything.