Janos Gereben wrote:

>The orchestra was front and center tonight in Davies Hall - physically,
>musically, authentically. ...
>
>In the performance of the second half of Act 2, MTT's performance danced
>with a manic intensity and rhythmic excitement reminiscent of his mentor,
>Leonard Bernstein. There can be many other approaches to "Fidelio," but
>it doesn't get any more gripping than this.
>
>... It's a pity that the "Leonore Overture No. 3" was not included - it
>would have been tremendous.

Sorry, I hate the introduction of Leonore III into staged performances
of the opera; I believe Mahler started this because of the delay between
scenes in the last act.  Even opera houses with rotating stages play
Leonore III, which to me interrupts the action.  I bet LvB (the composer,
not Steinway Piano's NYSE symbol) would not approve.  Many, many years
ago, Erich Leinsdorf did a concert performance of the original version
of "Fidelio" (it was then titled "Leonore", hence the overtures by that
name) with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.  This should be revived because
there's bit more music than the current-day "Fidelio" if I recall
correctly.  Thus a peformance of "Fidelio" could have the same heft
without playing the Leonore III to lengthen it.

Laurence Glavin
Methuen, MA