Copy Showcase: Beethoven’s Fidelio

Context:

I wrote these pieces of sample copy to drive ticket sales for underrepresented audience demographics at Lyric Opera of Chicago, emphasizing rhetorical appeals that inspire emotion and drive action. My goal in crafting the campaign theme of “Beethoven’s brick through the window” was driven by research into the historical context of the opera as well as centered on the motivations of the target audience.

Brand: Lyric Opera of Chicago
Product: Beethoven’s Fidelio performance run (September 26, 2024 – October 10, 2024)
Target Audience: Specific outreach to politically-minded younger (age 18-24) people at local universities
My Campaign Theme: Beethoven’s brick through the window

Twitter/X Advertisement:

Promotional Video Script for Socials:

FADE IN. [SLOW MOTION – GLASS SHATTERING]
[Glass fragments hang midair as a dramatic, powerful orchestral note begins to build.]

[Cut to a striking black screen with bold white text: “BEETHOVEN’S FIDELIO: A SHATTERING SYMPHONY OF FREEDOM AND LOVE”]

[Scene 1: Montage of the production—wide shots of an intense, modern stage design, close-ups of passionate performers singing, and flashes of shadowy prison bars.]

VOICEOVER (V.O.)
Experience Beethoven’s only opera as you’ve never seen it—raw, defiant, and unforgettable as a brick through the window.

[Scene 2: LEONORE, the protagonist, in disguise—her face determined. Cut to her reaching through cold iron bars, gripping her husband’s hand.]

V.O.
Fidelio isn’t just music—it’s revolution set to a score. A story of one woman risking everything to free her husband from wrongful imprisonment… where themes of resilience, courage, and the fight for justice echo through every note.

[Scene 3: Artistic Director Matthew Ozawa, silhouetted on stage during rehearsal. His voice cuts in briefly:]

MATTHEW OZAWA
This production breaks boundaries. It’s fierce. It’s urgent. It’s now.

[Scene 4: Powerful performance clips—singers on stage, emotions raw, Beethoven’s score swelling to a dramatic crescendo. Slow zoom into the words: HOPE. JUSTICE. FREEDOM.]

V.O.
Let Beethoven’s message hit you with the power of hope in the face of tyranny. Don’t miss your chance to be part of an experience that has redefined resistance for over 200 years.

[Scene 5: Audience members’ faces—captivated, moved, tears glistening. The stage lights dim.]

V.O.
Let this symphony move you. Let it remind you what we’re fighting for.

[Closing Screen: Text fades in with a final triumphant orchestral note.]
DON’T MISS THIS FIERCE, TIMELESS EXPERIENCE.
BEETHOVEN’S FIDELIO
Sept. 26 – Oct. 10, 2024 | Tickets Available Now
lyricopera.org/fidelio

[End Screen: Lyric’s logo with hashtags below.]
#FidelioUnleashed #OperaForChange

Email Blurb:

Subject Line: Join the Revolution

Body: Wrongful imprisonment, injustice, and an enduring desire for sunlight. Join the courageous heroine Leonore as she risks it all, disguising herself as a man to break into prison and save her husband from sure death.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Beethoven’s Fidelio (Sept. 26, 2024 – Oct. 10, 2024), putting its finger on the pulse of our nation. This isn’t just opera—it’s a powerful reminder of the fight for freedom and the strength it takes to confront oppression. Be there to experience the music that defies limits and inspires change.

🎟️ Tickets are limited—reserve yours now and be part of the revolution. [lyricopera.org/fidelio]