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
Constantinus Fidelio Coene Constantinus Fidelio Coene Constantinus Fidelio Coene, a painter of history, genre, and landscape, was born in 1780 at Vilvoorden. He first studied under Hendrik van Assche, and in 1809 removed to Amsterdam and became the pupil of Barbiers. He then went to Brussels, and in 1820 was made Professor at the Academy. His picture of 'Rubens receiving from Charles I. the sword with which he had been knighted ' gained for him the grand prize at Ghent, and is now in the Museum of that city. His 'Soldier returning from the Battle of Waterloo' also gained him much praise. He