Rescue opera tradition that would influence German Romantic opera and French grand opera. The most famous rescue opera is Ludwig van Beethoven's "Fidelio". "Rescue opera" was not a contemporary term. Dyneley Hussey used the term in English in 1927 as a translation of Karl M. Klob's 1913 reference to "Fidelio" as "das sogenannte Rettungs- oder Befreiungsstück" in "Die Oper von Gluck bis Wagner". David Charlton believes that rescue opera is not an authentic genre, and that the concept was coined to make what he believes is a nonexistent connection between Beethoven's work and French opera. Patrick J. Smith, on the other hand,
Washington National Opera order of the day". Four months later, the Society staged a double bill of Gian Carlo Menotti's opera "The Old Maid and the Thief" along with his ballet "The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and the Manticore". It was very successful with both the public and critics alike. Successful presentations followed from November 1957 onwards: "Fidelio"; "Ariadne auf Naxos"; "Idomeneo"; a double bill of Schoenberg's "Erwartung" and Stravinsky's "Le Rossignol" (conducted by the composer); and a December 1961 "The Magic Flute" which resulted in an invitation from President John Kennedy at the White House for some excerpts from the opera. By this