Freischütz

Der Freischütz (The Free Shooter) is a German Romantic opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber, with a German libretto by Johann Friedrich Kind. It premiered on 18 June 1821 at the Königliches Schauspielhaus in Berlin. The work is widely regarded as a landmark of German Romantic opera and is credited with inaugurating a distinct national style that fuses folk elements, supernatural themes, and concerted choral writing. Its emphasis on atmosphere, nature, and mysticism helped influence later composers, including Wagner, in the development of orchestral color and dramatic symbolism.

The plot centers on Max, a young hunter who loves Agathe and seeks to win her hand through a shooting contest. His jealous rival Kaspar ensnares him in a pact with Samiel, the Devil, to obtain magic bullets that never miss. Max receives help from the supernatural but is tested by fear and moral choice as the Wolf’s Glen sequence unfolds. The drama blends love, duty, and the struggle against darker forces, with Agathe’s steadfast virtue playing a decisive role in the resolution.

Musically, the score integrates lyrical arias, ensembles, and robust choral numbers with vivid orchestral color to evoke the forest setting and supernatural forces. The Wolf’s Glen scene remains one of opera’s most famous supernatural set pieces and showcases Weber’s innovative use of orchestration and mood.

Performance history: After its 1821 premiere, Der Freischütz quickly entered the European repertory and underwent revisions that helped standardize its version in the decades that followed. It is widely staged today and remains a touchstone of the Romantic repertoire and of German national opera.