Carl Maria von Weber
Important German romantic composer, conductor and publicist.
Born in Eutin (Schleswig-Holstein) in 1786, died in London in 1826. Buried at the old Catholic churchyard in Dresden.
Father Franz Anton used to travel frequently with his family; worked as musician and theatre director, especially in the first decade of Carl Maria's life.
Raised and presented – in the manner of Mozart – as a child prodigy (Weber's father was the brother of Mozart's wife Constanze).
Received his education in music under Michael Haydn in Salzburg and Abbé Vogler in Vienna, etc.
Band master in Breslau, music director in Carlsruhe (Silesia), privy secretary to Ludwig von Württemberg in Stuttgart (banishment 1810), travels, music director in Prague, later at the Royal Saxon Court Theatre (Kgl.-Sächsisches Hoftheater); established the German opera in Dresden. Wrote operas, orchestra, chamber and piano music, masses, cantatas, cantos and songs.
Debut performances of his most important operas in European metropolises: Der Freischütz (The Freeshooter) in Berlin 1821, Euryanthe in Vienna 1823, Oberon in London 1826.
1810: became acquainted with the story for Freischütz (corresponding tale by August Apel in his Gespensterbuch (Book of Ghosts); Leipzig 1810, planned of the Freischütz opera project together with Alexander von Dusch.
Begin of 1817: invited the Dresden poet Friedrich Kind to write the libretto for Freischütz
Through 1821: completion of this opera
Title of opera varied in its formative phase between Freischütz (freeshooter), Probeschuss (trial shoot), and Jägersbraut (hunter's bride).
