Fidelio

ACT 1

A Spanish prison in the 18th Century

Jaquino, a young prison worker, is asking Marzelline, a young woman, when she will finally consent to marry him. Marzelline tells Jaquino that she will never marry him and Jaquino is very upset by this because Marzelline seemed at one time to be in love with him (“Jetzt, Schätzchen, jetzt sind wir allein”). Once Jaquino leaves her, Marzelline tells how she once liked Jaquino but ever since the arrival of Fidelio, a hard-working young man, her feelings have changed, and it is now Fidelio she wishes to marry (“O war ich schon mit dir vereint”). Fidelio, who is really Leonore, a noble woman of Seville disguised to try and free her husband, Florestan, whom she believes is imprisoned, is distressed by Marzelline’s interest in her, especially since Marzelline’s father, Rocco, has given his blessing on their union. Rocco enters looking for Fidelio, who is returning having had chains repaired. Rocco compliments Fidelio for his hard work, and