Fidelio, an opera that deals with themes of false imprisonment, heroism and self-sacrificing love, is a moving testament to Beethoven’s belief in the noble aspect of human nature and the triumph of justice. Leonore bravely attempts the rescue of her husband Florestan, a political prisoner, by disguising herself as a man and becoming the gaoler’s assistant—but the evil governor Pizarro has his own dastardly plan…In a triumphant return to Derry after recent performances of The Coronation of Poppea and La bohème, OTC brings Beethoven’s single operatic masterpiece to the Wall2Wall Festival.

The project represents an extraordinary collaboration between OTC, the Ulster Orchestra, local choirs (including the University of Ulster Chamber Choir and Codetta) and the Nerve Centre, a community-based multimedia arts centre and film production business. The opera will be given in a concert performance accompanied by images projected on two large screens. The film, directed by John Mcllduff and produced by Pearse Moore, takes images from OTC’s unique site-specific production of Fidelio in the Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, to form a visually compelling montage of moving pictures, stills and close-ups of singers, actors and players from rehearsals through to performance.