This video is reserved for premium users. Join us and watch it in full now!

Live

Only on

Certain chapters are not available.
Thank you for your understanding.

Program

Carl Maria von Weber, Der Freischütz

Overture

I. "Viktoria! Viktoria!"

I. "Was gibt's hier?"

I. "O Diese Sonne" - "Das Wild in Fluren und Trifften"

I. "Nein, länger trag' ich nicht die Qualen" - "Durch die Wälder, durch die Auen"

I."Da bist du ja noch, Kamerad"

I."Hier im irdschen Jammertal"

I."Bruderherz"

I."Schweig - damit dich niemand warnt!"

II."Schelm! Halt fest!"

II. "Kommt ein schlanker Bursch gegangen"

II. "Wie nahte mir der Schlummer" - "Leise, leise, fromme Weise!"

II. "Meine Agathe!"

II."Wie?Was? Entsetzen"

II. "Milch des Mondes fiel aufs Kraut" - "Samiel!Samiel!Erschein!"

III. "Und ob die Wolke sie verhulle"

III. "Einst traumte meiner sel'gen Base"

III."Wir winden dir den Jungfernkranz"

III. " Was gleicht wohl auf Erden dem Jagervergnugen?"

III. "Genug der Freuden des Mahls"

III."Schaut, o schaut! Er traf die eigne Braut!"

III. "Wer legt auf ihn so strengen Bann?"

Weber's Der Freischütz

Carlus Padrissa (stage director), Christoph Eschenbach (conductor) — With Jeanine de Bique (Agathe), Anna Prohaska (Ännchen) and Benjamin Bruns (Max)

Subscribers

Cast

Carlus Padrissa — Stage director

La Fura dels Baus — Scenography

Esteban Muñoz — Dramaturgy

Tamara Joksimovic — Assistant stage designer

Hwan Kim — Costume designer

Jose Vaaliña — Lighting, video

Mikhail Timoshenko — Bass-baritone (Ottokar)

Program notes

Now is the perfect time to get (re)acquainted with Carl Maria von Weber's spectacular Der Freischütz (The Marksman), recorded here in a production that marked the 200th anniversary of its premiere at the Konzerthaus Berlin on June 18, 1821! Two hundred years later on the same stage, Carlus Padrissa—co-founder of the provocative, visionary theatrical group La Fura dels Baus, brings to vibrant life his vision of this monument of Romantic opera repertoire.

To recreate the fantastical atmosphere of the tale, Padrissa strips the splendid Konzerthaus of its orchestra seats to free up a vast space in which the singers and actors can perform freely. He also appeals to Jose Vaaliña's exceptional lighting, rendering his tricks and machinations visible to all. Padrissa's surprising, over-the-top reimagining of Der Freischütz nonetheless remains faithful to the original libretto and its narrative frame: the hunter Max (played by the excellent Benjamin Bruns) must win a well-known shooting contest to win the hand of Agathe (the luminous Jeanine de Bique). A recent string of poor luck, however, leads him to strike a deal with the devil in the hopes of triumphing… A delightfully off-the-wall adventure masterfully conducted by Christoph Eschenbach, the musical director of the Konzerthaus!

A closer look: featured composers

Carl Maria von Weber

Further listening: featured works

Der Freischütz

Carl Maria von Weber (Composer)

A golden ticket to thousands of concerts, operas, ballets, and more