Beethoven: overture Leonore number 3

The South Birmingham Sinfonia will be performing this overture as part of the Summer 2016 concert.

Beethoven struggled to produce an appropriate overture for his opera Fidelio, and ultimately went through four versions. His first attempt, for the 1805 premiere, is believed to have been the overture now known as "Leonore No. 2". Beethoven then focused this version for the performances of 1806, creating "Leonore No. 3". The latter is considered by many listeners as the greatest of the four overtures, and is normally played (as SBS will) as a concert overture.