Fidelio Vienna was under French military occupation, and most of the audience were French military officers. After this premiere, Beethoven was pressured by friends to revise and shorten the opera into just two acts, and he did so with the help of Stephan von Breuning. The composer also wrote a new overture (now known as "Leonore No. 3"; see below). In this form the opera was first performed on 29 March and 10 April 1806, with greater success. Further performances were prevented by a dispute between Beethoven and the theatre management. In 1814 Beethoven revised his opera yet again, with additional
The Phantom of the Opera (audio drama) The Phantom of the Opera (audio drama) The Phantom of the Opera, an adaptation of the novel of the same title by Gaston Leroux, is an audio drama created by Big Finish Productions for BBC Radio 7, broadcast in December 2007. The story was written and directed by Barnaby Edwards in four half-hour episodes. The four-part dramatization is the first to feature the original operatic sequences described in the novel, which have been freshly recorded and orchestrated by composer Tim Sutton. The play features Anna Massey, Peter Guinness, Alexander Siddig and James D’Arcy. Barnaby Edwards has said it will be