On the occasion of the premiere of Beethoven’s Fidelio on Saturday, December 9th 2017, the Nationaltheater Mannheim hosted a reception at the « Oberes Foyer » to present the FEDORA Platform and its activities and to celebrate the support of the European Commission.

Beethoven’s Fidelio originates in a bloody era in which conquests and struggles for liberation were dominating Europe. After the failure of the revolution, a new period of Secret Services and prisons arose, where torture, treason and sacrifice were present everywhere. Beethoven was devoted to the topic of enlightenment an it is therefore not surprising that his only Opera Fidelio has become the parable representing the misuse of political ideas : Florestan, innocently in prison, is facing the cruel death from starvation ordered by the sadistic governor Pizarro. However, his wife, disguised as « Fidelio », snuck into the household of a prison guard, where she is able to gain his trust to then enter the prison in order to prevent Pizarros murderous plans at gunpoint.