In 2020, we celebrate 250 years since the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, the composer whose works are most often performed around the world.

Goethe-Institut Bucharest, National University of Music Bucharest, Romanian Music Information Center - CIMRO, Replica Educational Theater Center launches the contemporary opera project co-financed by the National Cultural Fund Administration: YOU ARE FIDELIO!

Between November 2019 and June 2020, under the guidance of composer Catherine Milliken (Berlin) and opera director Robert Lehmeier (Berlin), a workshop dedicated to a number of 10 librettists and composers took place. The goal was to rethink and reimagine some librettos and compositions focused on the message of the only work composed by Beethoven, Fidelio, to translate it into a contemporary language, thus linking it to the ideas and preferences of the young generation in Romania.

The project represents a multivalent opportunity to promote young artists, and a chance for young spectators to understand the context of the show You are Fidelio!, as well as the path taken by its protagonists, for its transposition on stage.

At the same time, the project team has the opportunity to presenta new vision and a new form of the genre of opera to the public.

Fidelio, the only work written by Beethoven is based on a deep existential question: what makes man a human being? "Wer du auch seist, ich will dich retten!" ("Whoever you are, I want to save you"), one of the key phrases in Fidelio, offers a truly universal message, which has never lost its relevance, the project team managing to masterfully bring perennial subjects, such as loyalty, betrayal, but also flight and loss of homeland (loss of sense of belonging)to the forefront by means of this new production.

Reinterpreting Beethoven's work in a contemporary key is the substratum of the five mini-works created under the guidance of Catherine Milliken, along with Robert Lehmeier and Dan Dediu, specially designed to familiarize young audiences with an art form they do not normally have easy access to.

The libretto (and, therefore, also the dramaturgical relationship between the scenes) was elaborated during workshops for young writers, under the guidance of director Robert Lehmeier.

The five works:

Rescue does not come from above:Sabina Balan (libretto), Sorin Marinescu (music), Nurse: Mihaela Maxim (Soprano), Female soldier: Antonela Barnat (Mezzo-soprano), Terrorist: Iustinian Zetea (Bass)

The stage we were dancing on (Whoever you are, I don't know how to save): Mădălina Stoica (libretto), Bogdan Pintilie (music), A: Antonela Barnat (Mezzo-soprano), B: Iustinian Zetea (Bass), C: Elena Dediu (Soprano)

3560 characters: Ruxandra Simion (libretto), Andrei Petrache (music), Engineer: Cătălin Petrescu (Baritone), CEO: Elena Dediu (Soprano)

Neverland: Bianca Trifan (libretto), Alexandru Mihalcea (music), Ema: Elena Dediu (Soprano), Anima: Mihaela Maxim (Soprano), Animus: Antonela Barnat (Mezzo-soprano)

The noise within us: Mihaela Michailov (libretto), Vlad Gînța (music), Doctor: Antonela Barnat (Mezzo-soprano), Mother: Mihaela Maxim (Soprano), Father: Cătălin Petrescu (Baritone), Child: Maya-Sophie Burneci

Leonore: Mara Căruțasu

Conductor: Simona Strungaru

SonoMania ensemble: Valentin Ghita (oboe), Mihai Pintenaru (clarinet), Olga Berar (violin), Tamara Dica (viola), Eugen-Bogdan Popa (cello), Mihai Murariu (piano)

Project concept: Catherine Milliken, Robert Lehmeier

Show director: Robert Lehmeier

Film director: Ruxandra Țuchel

Scenography/costumes: Adrian Damian

Image: Silviu Andrei

Montage: Gabriela Burcea

Sound design: Gabriel Scîrlet

Scenography / costume assistance: Andrei Șova, Clara Ștefana

Director's assistance: Mara Căruțașu

Technical team: Dan Bujor, Ionuț Gute, Florin Neagoe, Petre Mitu

Sound recordings master: Florentina Herghilegiu

Sound engineer: Claudiu Roşiu

Project coordination: Oana Lapadatu (Goethe-Institut), Diana Rotaru (CIMRO)