Beethoven wrote his only opera Fidelio in the full maturity of his creative powers. Based on a lofty and strongly dramatic theme of freedom, justice, and heroism, the composer’s idealized image of womanhood is to be seen in the married love of the heroine Leonore. This collection of highlights includes the Prisoner’s Chorus, an ode to freedom sung by a chorus of political prisoners, Florestan’s hallucinating vision of Leonore come as an angel to rescue him (Gott! Welch’ Dunkel hier!), and the highly melodramatic Finale to Act II in which the rescue finally takes place.