Beethoven only wrote one opera and that opera took place in Seville Fidelio, is filled with passion and emotion, which is sure to move audiences. This genius German could not resist to include Seville in his masterpiece, a city which appears in several other operas. But, why Seville?
The opera takes place in a prison in the outskirts of Seville, which makes for a grim setting. In the Teatro de la Maestranza’s production, the stage director, José Carlos Plaza, makes this sordid setting apparent with blocks of oxidized iron and rocks littered throughout the stage, which serve as the confines of Florestán. Leonore traverses this grim setting when she dresses as Fidelio to get into the prison and reach her detained husband. So what is so marvelous about Seville in this dismal hole?
The prison, where Governor Pizarro holds Florestán, is simply located in the area surrounding Seville with no specific details, however, it has been identified as Castillo de San Jorge, which was a prison during the Spanish Inquisition. Furthermore, the description of Seville at a distance, with its modest buildings and majestic Cathedral and Giralda, matches the views from the s shores of the Guadalquivir in Triana.
The skyline described by Beethoven matches the Seville from the end of the 18th century. At least that is how Leal interprets it. While Seville lived a Golden era with the discovery of America, the city declined during the 18th century due to several reason. First, the great earthquake of 1755 brought down of the city’s most important buildings of the time. Additionally, while the city still maintained a stronghold on the tobacco and arms industry, Seville lost its monopoly of the importation of goods from America, which led to a major decline in the economy. Finally, the plague returned to Seville and wiped out many civilians.
Beethoven had to premier his only opera three times for it to become a universal success. Seville, on the other hand, has always been an instant success with spectators.