Opera

www.operanews.com, 02. June 2015
... Maestro Hartmut Haenchen conducted a muscular, traditional reading and was responsible for the most daring and discussed decision in this revival: instead of separating the last two scenes with one of the several versions of Beethoven’s overture, Haenchen ended the dungeon scene by jumping into the third and fourth movements of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
With the last notes of the symphony, the music of the opera resumed, the Piranesi walls and chains started moving on the screen, and we were back in Fidelio. ... the daring use of the music was entirely consistent with the spirit of Beethoven. ... it was refreshing that in this case it was a conductor who diverged from established tradition.
ROBERTO HERRSCHER
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