Amidst the many stories of strong and heroic men, a work where true strength and resolution are embodied by a woman – even if she must disguise herself as a man to achieve her goal – always raises fascinating questions. Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera brings together multiple traditions: it incorporates the Singspiel (a musical drama with spoken dialogue), an almost fairy-tale-like happy ending, the legacy of Viennese classicism, and a foreshadowing of Romantic grandeur. At the same time, it stands as one of the most iconic examples of rescue opera, in which a wife, Leonore – disguised as Fidelio – fights to save her unjustly imprisoned husband, Florestan.
The OPERA follows a long-standing tradition by collaborating with major international opera houses or adopting productions to offer the Budapest audience a taste of European performances. Following last year’s Don Giovanni from Berlin, this time it presents a production from London’s Royal Ballet and Opera, directed by Tobias Kratzer, the director of the Hamburg Opera from the 2025/26 season. His staging masterfully blends traditional and modern elements in an exciting way, under the baton of Péter Halász. The production was a resounding success in London, making it a great privilege that it will be the Budapest audience to experience it first internationally outside the UK.

Based on the production by Royal Opera, Covent Garden, London. First performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 1 March 2020.

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Librettist: Joseph Sonnleithner, Stephan von Breuning, Georg Friedrich Treitschke

Director: Tobias Kratzer
Revival director: Yves Lenoir
Set and costume designer: Rainer Sellmaier
Adaptation of the set design: Manuel Curiman
Lighting designer: Michael Bauer
Video designer: Manuel Braun
Dramaturg: Bettina Bartz
Chorus director: Gábor Csiki