Der Freischütz
Romantic Opera in three acts (1821)
Music by Carl Maria von Weber
Text by Friedrich Kind
Media
An elderly princely forester wants to name Max the marksman his successor and give him his daughter’s hand in marriage, and the prince is satisfied, but an old law states that an especially difficult test of marksmanship is required. Another evil, debauched marksman Caspar has cast his eye on the girl, but is half lost to the devil. Max, otherwise an excellent shot, is constantly missing his target in the time before the test shot and in despair is finally convinced by Caspar to cast so-called free bullets, where six hit their target without fail, while the seventh belongs to the devil. This last is intended for the poor girl, thus bringing Max to despair and then suicide, but the heavens decide otherwise. At the trial of marksmanship, Agatha indeed falls, but Caspar as well: the latter as the actual victim of the devil, but the former only out of fright. All ends well.
Carl Maria von Weber in a letter to his betrothed, Caroline Brandt, Dresden, March 3, 1817
In the soubrette role of Ännchen, the soprano Anna Prohaska sang with exquisite delicacy.
The New York Times, 22 January 2015