"The success was tremendous and unprecedented! Critics, artists, amateurs and music lovers were intoxicated ... The auditorium roared apart, loudly proclaiming the new miracle." Thus a report on the premiere in 1821 at the Berlin Schauspielhaus. Der Freischütz struck a chord with the times, every barrel organ played the "Jungfernkranz", every street singer performed it, as Heine reports. Weber had discovered the material in an old ghost book. The story of the hunter Max, who devotes himself to the devil in order to win his bride, touches on people's primal fears. The forest, the epitome of the "German soul", becomes a battleground between good and evil. Weber's music depicts the plight and despair of the people with gripping emotionality; the hope of a happy ending is evoked with fervor. Romantic drama and folk play in one, Der Freischütz is set somewhere between dream and nightmare, fascinating to this day.

EPSG:4326

Der Freischütz

Staatsoper Hamburg

Unforgettable characters search for love and truth in this playful reimagining of Mozart’s classic fairytale. Be transported by hand-drawn illustrations and elaborate puppetry, as well as some of the best music Mozart ever composed.

Alina Wunderlin

Events

Upcoming events

Jun 23, 2025

Miller & Munich Symphony Orchestra · Münchner Symphoniker

Past events

Nov 17 - Dec 5, 2024

Der Freischütz · Staatsoper Hamburg

18 - 21 Jul, 2024

Die Zauberflöte · Glyndebourne

Future and recently performed repertoire

Anchen in Der Freischütz by Weber

Staatsoper Hamburg

About

Alina Wunderlin hasn't added a bio