Fidelio trio "Gut, Söhnchen, gut"
The trio from Beethoven's opera Fidelio "Gut, Söhnchen, gut" ("Well said, my son"), of which we can see a corrected copy for the 1806 version, is the most problematic number in the opera. It is very long (in 1805 it had 232 bars, the version for 1806 211 bars and the 1814 version was shortened to 198 bars) and was originally the end of the exposition. Despite being shortened the trio only received minor revisions. While it still had a place amongst the other lighthearted numbers in 1806, its dramatic role changed in 1814 as the comic-larmoyante plot surrounding Marzelline was greatly reduced. (J.R.)
