Ludwig van Beethoven Fidelio

Two years prior to the opening scene the nobleman Florestan has exposed or attempted to expose certain crimes of the nobleman Pizarro In revenge Pizarro has secretly imprisoned Florestan in the prison over which Pizarro is governor The jailer of the prison Rocco has a daughter Marzelline and a servant or assistant Jaquino Florestans wife Leonore came to Roccos door dressed as a boy seeking employment and Rocco hired her On orders Rocco has been giving Florestan diminishing rations until he is nearly starved to death Place A Spanish state prison a few miles from Seville Time Late 18th century