Fidelio by Ferdinando Paer (a score of which was owned by Beethoven). Beethoven published the 1806 libretto and, in 1810, a vocal score under the title "Leonore", and the current convention is to use the name "Leonore" for both the 1805 (three-act) and 1806 (two-act) versions and "Fidelio" only for the final 1814 revision. The first version with a three-act German libretto adapted by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly premiered at the Theater an der Wien on 20 November 1805, with additional performances the following two nights. The success of these performances was hindered by the fact that
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