Overture no. 1 to the opera "Fidelio" (C major) op. 138

All in all Beethoven composed four overtures for the various versions of Fidelio (Leonore): three Leonore overtures and the Fidelio overture, written for the third and last version (from 1814) and played as an overture to the opera. The three Leonore overtures are usually performed at concerts. However, the numbers they bear conceal their relation to the opera.

After Fidelio's première in 1805 Beethoven revised the opera twice, in 1806 and 1814. The overture, now known as Leonore Overture no. 2 belongs to the version of 1805; the so-called Leonore Overture no. 3 is associated with the second version of 1806. Leonore Overture no. 1 does not belong to any of the three Vienna versions. In 1807, a performance of the opera was planned to take place outside of Vienna, probably in Prague. For this occasion, Beethoven composed a new overture, op. 138, making it the third of the four overtures. The performance never took place, and the overture was never played during Beethovens lifetime. The opus number was assigned by the publisher Haslinger after Beethovens death. It was also Haslinger who called it the 'first' Leonore Overture, thereby causing much confusion about the chronological order of the four overtures. (J.R.)