Page 151 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained
P. 151
ROMANTIC 1810–1920 149
MUSIC IS TRULY
LOVE ITSELF
DER FREISCHÜTZ (1821),
CARL MARIA VON WEBER
The magic bullets used in the
IN CONTEXT shooting contest in Der Freischütz
are fired in the spooky Wolf’s Glen,
FOCUS depicted here in an aquatint of the
German Romantic opera opera scene.
BEFORE
1791 Mozart’s The Magic Premiered in Berlin in 1821, Der
Flute, the supreme example Freischütz propelled its composer
of the Singspiel tradition, is to stardom. Its success was partly
performed in Vienna. because it was grounded firmly
in German culture, using easily
1816 The premiere of E.T.A. recognizable characters, settings,
Hoffmann’s Romantic opera folklore, and folk music. Weber had
Undine, about a water spirit envisaged a great new German
who marries a human, takes opera tradition.
place in Berlin. The combination of national
pride, emotional content, and the
AFTER n example of a Viennese depiction of the supernatural
1833 Heinrich Marschner’s Singspiel (“play in song”), impressed the young Richard
opera Hans Heiling, like his A which links songs with Wagner, who saw Der Freischütz at
earlier success Der Vampyr, spoken dialogue, Carl Maria the age of nine. At the same time,
contrasts the real and von Weber’s Der Freischütz (The Weber’s innovative orchestration,
supernatural worlds. Freeshooter) tells the story of Max, especially the evocative use of
a young huntsman from Bohemia woodwinds and horns, influenced
1834 Richard Wagner who is persuaded by the wicked Berlioz, Mahler, and Debussy.
completes his opera Die Caspar to take part in a shooting Weber wrote two more operas.
Feen (The Fairies), which is contest that will win Max the He was in London to conduct the
heavily influenced by Weber’s hand of Agathe. To ensure victory, premiere of his last work, Oberon,
Der Freischütz. Caspar gives him magic bullets in 1826, when he died of
forged in the Wolf’s Glen. tuberculosis, aged 39. ■
See also: The Magic Flute 134–137 ■ The Barber of Seville 148 ■
La traviata 174–175 ■ The Ring Cycle 180–187 ■ Tosca 194–197
US_148-149_Rossini_Weber.indd 149 26/03/18 1:00 PM
