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Fidelio is not a work that I know very well and I have only two versions in my collection, namely;

Fricsay conducting the Bavarian State Orchestra with soloists Rysanek/Seefried/Fischer-Dieskau/Frink

Klemperer conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra with soloists Ludwig/Vickers/Frick/Berry


I would like another version so I am looking for recommendations please. I am not really interested in a DVD/Blu Ray version. So, what essential version should I buy? I have read that the Bernstein is a very good version.

The late Claudio Abbado's recording from 2010 is exceptional, Fergus.  A detailed, thought-provoking, compelling reading that lingers long in the mind.  Jonas Kaufmann's Florestan is breathtaking in its communication of a primal anguish that simply rocks you to your core.  There is an earlier version conducted by Harnoncourt (currently available only on DVD) from 2004 that also features Kaufmann and is very recommendable but the Abbado version is my top choice and I lament greatly the fact that the maestro never recorded Missa Solemnis.  

I have never understood why so many music lovers hate Fidelio, even people who should know better.
Fortunately I am not one of them and I love it very much.
Sure, the Abbado is awesome, the best possible in recent times. I´m also a big fan of the Harnoncourt, his is perhaps the closest to Fricsay´s in conception. I also have a special liking for Bernstein´s with Gundula Janowitz as Leonore. Some thought her too light for the role, but she sings with such passion, abandon and beauty of tone that it´s impossible to fault. This production was also released on DVD, very touching and satisfying.

mcq wrote:The late Claudio Abbado's recording from 2010 is exceptional, Fergus.  A detailed, thought-provoking, compelling reading that lingers long in the mind.  Jonas Kaufmann's Florestan is breathtaking in its communication of a primal anguish that simply rocks you to your core.  There is an earlier version conducted by Harnoncourt (currently available only on DVD) from 2004 that also features Kaufmann and is very recommendable but the Abbado version is my top choice and I lament greatly the fact that the maestro never recorded Missa Solemnis.  

Thank you for that Paul; the presence of Kaufmann on that recording is very compelling for me.

Jose Echenique wrote:I have never understood why so many music lovers hate Fidelio, even people who should know better.
Fortunately I am not one of them and I love it very much.
Sure, the Abbado is awesome, the best possible in recent times. I´m also a big fan of the Harnoncourt, his is perhaps the closest to Fricsay´s in conception. I also have a special liking for Bernstein´s with Gundula Janowitz as Leonore. Some thought her too light for the role, but she sings with such passion, abandon and beauty of tone that it´s impossible to fault. This production was also released on DVD, very touching and satisfying.

Thank you for that Pepe; my inclination is to go for the Bernstein and the Abbado and I will also consider the Harnoncourt.

The greatness of Fidelio lies in its moving portrayal of the most basic of human values, dignity and a desire for personal liberty, as tenets that must be clung to fervently in the face of the most callous oppression.  Fidelio had a difficult and protracted gestation and its eventual completion was of great personal importance to Beethoven and paved the way for the astonishing masterpieces of his final years.

I bought this version recently and found it a glorious and joyous listening experience.  The conductor, Hans Knappertsbusch, was primarily known as a Wagner interpreter (and a great one at that), but he recorded a Fidelio for Westminster in 1961 that is notable for its measured and thoughtful approach and one which I personally found to be an emotionally wrenching and deeply rewarding experience.

mcq wrote:The greatness of Fidelio lies in its moving portrayal of the most basic of human values, dignity and a desire for personal liberty, as tenets that must be clung to fervently in the face of the most callous oppression.  Fidelio had a difficult and protracted gestation and its eventual completion was of great personal importance to Beethoven and paved the way for the astonishing masterpieces of his final years.

I bought this version recently and found it a glorious and joyous listening experience.  The conductor, Hans Knappertsbusch, was primarily known as a Wagner interpreter (and a great one at that), but he recorded a Fidelio for Westminster in 1961 that is notable for its measured and thoughtful approach and one which I personally found to be an emotionally wrenching and deeply rewarding experience.

I have the Westminster edition that appeared a few years ago. Kna conducts in the late romantic manner like Klemperer, Beethoven seen back from Wagner and Bruckner, rather than the more period approach of Harnoncourt and even Fricsay. I love the radiant Leonore of Sena Jurinac, a true soprano like Leonie Rysanek instead of the mezzo effort of Christa Ludwig for Klemperer in the studio and Karajan live in Vienna. She is radiant in the role, and can also be heard live on Testament with Klemperer conducting. I´m not much of a fan of Jann Peerce though, his nasal tone is often a burden.

mcq wrote: I bought this version recently and found it a glorious and joyous listening experience.  The conductor, Hans Knappertsbusch, was primarily known as a Wagner interpreter (and a great one at that), but he recorded a Fidelio for Westminster in 1961 that is notable for its measured and thoughtful approach and one which I personally found to be an emotionally wrenching and deeply rewarding experience.

I rather like Knappertsbusch conducting Wagner so this I find interesting; thank you for that.

Does anyone have any experience of Furtwangler conducting Fidelio?

Sure, he left a 1953 studio recording with Martha Mödl and a live 1950 Salzburg Festival Broadcast with Kirsten Flagstad. Both readings are commanding, electric and needless to say, the work of a master. Both Leonores too are extraordinary.