The Leonore Project

Before Fidelio, Ludwig van Beethoven wrote Leonore, a version modeled on an opera by Pierre Gaveaux and Jean-Nicolas Bouilly, similarly titled Léonore, ou L’Amour conjugal. Opera Lafayette committed to producing both these works, which are grounded in the tradition of the 18th century opéra comique, and was the basis for Beethoven’s Fidelio, a touchstone of the operatic canon. Opera Lafayette premiered Gaveaux’s work in 2017 and performed Beethoven’s Leonore in 2020. The artistic teams and casts were intentionally similar to highlight the close relationship between the two works.

Composer Librettist Premiere Year Language

Conductor Stage Director Set and Costume Designer Lighting Designer

LÉONORE, OU L’AMOUR CONJUGAL LEONORE

Pierre Gaveaux Ludwig van Beethoven Jean-Nicolas Bouilly Joseph Sonnleithner 1798 1805 French German ARTISTIC TEAMS

Ryan Brown Oriol Tomas Laurence Mongeau Julie Basse Rob Siler CASTS

Léonore/Fidélio: Kimy McLaren Leonore/Fidelio: Nathalie Paulin Florestan: Jean-Michel Richer Florestan: Jean-Michel Richer Roc: Tomislav Lavoie Rocco: Stephen Hegedus Marceline: Pascale Beaudin Marzelline: Pascale Beaudin

Pizare: Dominique Cộté Pizarro: Matthew Scollin

Jacquino: Keven Geddes Jaquino: Keven Geddes Dom Fernand: Alexandre Sylvestre Don Fernando: Alexandre Sylvestre