„Fidelio is not only an opera; it’s a philosophical statement about courage, liberty, love, and the triumph of the human spirit. Every stage director I’ve met wrestles with the same question when putting on Fidelio: How do you make it relevant to the time we live in? Here, we present it in concert to bring attention to the extraordinary ways that Ludwig van Beethoven’s music is philosophy set to sound.
—Franz Welser-Möst, Music Director
As part of the 2026 Mandel Opera & Humanities Festival Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio, Opus 72, was performed in a series of highly anticipated concert stagings at the Mandel Concert Hall in Severance Music Center. Following previous festival themes of „The American Dream“ (2023), „Power“ (2024), and „Reconciliation“ (2025), the 2026 festival centered around the profound theme of „Courage.“
Performing Artists:
Franz Welser-Möst, Conductor
The Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus
Sara Jakubiak
David Butt Philip
Tomasz Konieczny
Dashon Burton
Ashley Emerson
Owen McCausland
Raymond Aceto
Ronnie Dailey
Francisco Prado
Tony F. Sias
