Christof Fischesser - Weber: Der Freischutz - BLU-RAY

Bull's eye, Carl Maria von Weber triumphantly wrote to his librettist Friedrich Kind after the enthusiastically received world premiere of Der Freischutz in 1821 in Berlin. With it's emotional and gripping music, it soon became the epitome of German Romantic opera. As one of the most popular operas in the German-speaking world, Der Freischutz has now been staged on the Seebuhne for the first time under the lead of director and stage designer Philipp Stolzl and conductor-in-residence Enrique Mazzola. The two teamed up again in Bregenz following their phenomenal success with Verdi's Rigoletto. InchThe staging is overwhelmingInch (Suddeutsche Zeitung). InchA small theatre miracle is taking place in BregenzInch (Der Tagesspiegel). BONUS A Winter's Tale Inside 'Der Freischutz' at Bregenzer Festspiele

Weber was at the forefront of the rise of German Romantic opera and sought to dethrone Rossini from his position as the leading operatic composer in Europe. In his breakthrough and most popular opera Der Freischütz ('The Marksman') composed in 1821, he succeeded in his aim of establishing a truly German form. Turning to the folklore and folk songs of his native land he took a story of a marksman who makes a pact with the Devil, vesting it with powerful intensity - not least in the famous Wolf's Glen scene - and an astonishing control of orchestral color and atmosphere.

Axel Köhler's production of Der Freischütz at the Dresden State Opera was described by Die Presse as Incha minor miracle in DresdenInch. In the words of the Salzburger Nachrichten, Köhler Inchscored a bulleyeInch with his sombre and satanic interpretation of Weber's Romantic opera about love, temptation, souls sold to the Devil, obsession and faith. According to the Financial Times, Christian Thielemann and the Dresden Staatskapelle conjured up a sense of Inchmortal terror from the orchestra pit. [...] Thielemann is in command of every detail. That makes for utterly gripping listening.Inch