Carl Maria von Weber: Der Freischütz

---

---

Shipping time: In stock | Expected delivery 1-2 days | Free UK Delivery

---

Der Freischütz represents a milestone in the history of German opera. Written in 1821 against the backcloth of the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon, this so-called ‘national opera’ expresses the Germans’ desire for cultural identity. The librettist Johann Friedrich Kind places the action around the time of the Thirty Years’ War (1618–48), a time when society was shaped by religious power struggles, war and outdated rituals, leading to a blurring of reality and the illusion of a perfect world. According to ancient custom, the huntsman Max is allowed to take his beloved Agathe as his wife and become a hereditary forester only if his shot in a shooting contest hits its mark. But Kaspar tries to lure Max into a pact with the devil that ensures seven free bullets for Max that will not miss their target in the Wolfschlucht … The recording took place on 8 December 2018 with the Essen Philharmonic under Tomáš Netopil in the Aalto Theater Essen. The production will be revived in April 2020.