Simon O'Neill sings 'Gott! Welch dunkel hier' from Act 2 of Beethoven's Fidelio. Maestro Daniel Barenboim and the West-East Divan Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms 2009.
This performance is fantastic. But the subtitles are horrible. How can anybody translate this beautiful text like that? "My heart is at peace for I have done what is right?" completely wrong. "sweet solace in my heart, my duty is what i've done" would be much better.
Just a bit too "heavy" for my taste. I know the subject is dreary. But this interpretation drags unnecessarily. Doesn't sound like Ludwig van Beethoven any more. Sorry - hope you can take the criticism ;o)
@MrDesperateArtist This is the most stupid comment one could ever possibly make on Beethoven's Fidelio, an opera that is characterized throughout by the spirit of true freedom and the belief in the victory of love. Your obviously tending to non-existent German let you connect his singing "ins himmlische Reich" to the Third Reich - when he, in fact, sings about his wife, the thought of whom lets him feel the heavenly kingdom although he is guiltlessly imprisoned and wearing ball and chain.
O'Neill is great, but Barenboim has lots of trouble following the soloist (esp. at 7:40 and following).
LordHettrick 2 months ago
This performance is fantastic. But the subtitles are horrible. How can anybody translate this beautiful text like that? "My heart is at peace for I have done what is right?" completely wrong. "sweet solace in my heart, my duty is what i've done" would be much better.
h0ax86 2 months ago
I like the little extra length of "Leonoren", esp. at 7:43, gives this performance a certain special touch.
camelsandwhisky 8 months ago
it was a pleasant performance of this difficult and dreary piece.
owenhsmith 9 months ago
Just a bit too "heavy" for my taste. I know the subject is dreary. But this interpretation drags unnecessarily. Doesn't sound like Ludwig van Beethoven any more. Sorry - hope you can take the criticism ;o)
mmbmbmbmb 9 months ago
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful!
vildmedchow 10 months ago
It's sooo cool to know you, Simon.... BRAVO!!
divobari2 1 year ago
Bellissimo!!!
Roberto.
robertocasitenore 1 year ago
How wooden all his voice! And how fanatic the unwritten fermata on the first note!
000belmonte 1 year ago
@MrDesperateArtist This is the most stupid comment one could ever possibly make on Beethoven's Fidelio, an opera that is characterized throughout by the spirit of true freedom and the belief in the victory of love. Your obviously tending to non-existent German let you connect his singing "ins himmlische Reich" to the Third Reich - when he, in fact, sings about his wife, the thought of whom lets him feel the heavenly kingdom although he is guiltlessly imprisoned and wearing ball and chain.
Baccalaureus79 1 year ago