Synopsis

The time of the Spanish Inquisition, near Seville.
Several years before the action begins, Florestan is imprisoned for exposing gross injustices perpetrated by Don Pizarro’s crooked administration.  His faithful wife, Leonore, in a brave attempt to free her husband has disguised herself as a man in order to gain employment by the jailer Rocco.  With no legal recourse within the corrupt government, she hopes to infiltrate the prison in order to liberate her husband whom she loves so dearly.

ACT I

The servant Jacquino once again professes his love for Rocco's daughter Marzelline, only to be painfully reminded that her heart is set on her father's capable new assistant.  Leonore (in disguise as Fidelio) soon returns from an errand, and Rocco, sensing a better future available to his daughter outside the confines of the prison, promises his daughter's hand to his clever (and economically savvy) new assistant. Leonore seizes the moment, offering to shoulder more of Rocco's workload and flattering Marzelline’s increasingly ardent advances, hoping to gain access to the cell in which she believes her husband is incarcerated.

Rocco’s superior, Don Pizarro, arrives and upon receiving the day's dispatches discovers that the Minister Don Fernando plans to conduct a surprise investigation of the premises the next morning. Don Pizarro knows that Florestan has been presumed dead by the Minister for years and must not be discovered as he is clearly a victim of unsanctioned torture.  He and Rocco devise a plan to murder Florestan and dispose of his body before Don Fernando has a chance to discover this inconvenient truth.  Leonore’s resolve is strengthened by the sudden urgency of her cause in the face of such wickedness. While Jacquino and Marzelline quarrel, Leonore in a desperate effort to find her husband, convinces Rocco to allow the prisoners to enjoy some fresh air outside of their dark and dank dungeons, a decision which backfires when Don Pizarro returns early and berates Rocco for having allowed the prisoners to leave their cells.  He commands Rocco to dig Florestan's grave immediately, leading Rocco to enlist the help of his assistant.  Leonore and Jacquino return the disappointed prisoners to their cells for the night.

ACT II
Scene 1

Florestan, alone in a dungeon, expresses his conviction that he has done the right thing, even though it has brought him such unbearable torture.  The memory of his wife and his love for her compel him to survive for yet another day. Rocco and Leonore descend into the depths of the prison to discover Florestan desperate for a drink of water.  Rocco is moved to give him a drop of wine just before Don Pizarro arrives to actually murder the prisoner himself. The men ask Leonore to leave them, but Leonore conceals herself nearby. Just as Don Pizarro moves to strike, Leonore intervenes and reveals her true identity.  The tense stand-off is broken only by the announcement of the arrival of Don Fernando and his retinue. Don Pizarro’s evil crimes will now surely be brought to light and the couple is finally reunited.

Scene 2