Who is Max Weber. Carl Maria von Weber - WEBER, Carl Maria von

Constance, studied music since childhood. He left his mark as a pianist and later as music director theaters in Prague and Dresden.

All the best, viable, democratic in romanticism (aesthetic ideas, new stylistic features literary and musical works) received its original implementation in the work of Weber.

As a composer, he is especially known as the author of the first significant German romantic opera"Free shooter".

Carl Maria Friedrich von Weber was born in the small town of Eitin in Holstein, in northern Germany, on December 18, 1786, in the family of a passionate music lover, an itinerant entrepreneur. drama companies Franz Anton Weber.

The childhood years of the future composer were closely connected with the environment and atmosphere of the nomadic provincial German theater, which later determined, on the one hand, the composer's interest in musical and dramatic genres, and on the other hand, professional knowledge of the laws of the stage and a subtle sense of the specifics of musical and dramatic art. As a child, Weber showed equal interest in both music and painting.

Weber's first acquaintance with music was under the guidance of his father and older brother Edmund. IN early childhood the future composer showed equal interest in both music and painting. Despite the difficulties that arose in connection with the frequent moves of the family from one city to another, Franz Anton Weber sought to give his son a professional musical education.

In 1796, in Hildburghausen, Karl Maria borrowed from I. P. Geiskel, in 1797 and in 1801 in Salzburg he studied the basics of counterpoint under the guidance of Mikhail Haydn, in 1798-1800 in Munich he studied composition with the court organist I. N. Kalcher and singing I. E. Valesi (Wallishhauser).

In 1798, under the direction of Mikhail Haydn, Weber wrote six fuguettes for clavier - the composer's first independent opus. This was followed by a large number of new compositions in various genres:

• six variations on an original theme
• twelve allemands and six ecossaises for clavier
• Grand Youth Mass Es-dur
• several songs for voice and piano
• comic canons for three voices
• opera "The Power of Love and Wine" (1798)
• unfinished opera The Silent Forest Girl (1800)
• singspiel "Peter Schmoll and his neighbors" (1801), approved by Michael Haydn

Big shift in creative development composer came in 1803, when, after wandering around many cities in Germany, Weber arrived in Vienna, where he met with the famous music teacher Abbe Vogler. The latter, noticing gaps in Weber's musical-theoretical education, demanded a lot of painstaking work from the young man. In 1804, on the recommendation of Vogler, the seventeen-year-old Weber received a position as director of music (kapellmeister) at the Breslau Opera House. From that moment came new period(1804-1816) in the life and work of the composer.

Theater in the life of a young composer

This was one of the most important periods in Weber's evolution, when his worldview and aesthetic views took shape, and his talent as a composer entered a time of bright flowering. Working with opera companies, Weber discovered outstanding conducting skills.

Working with troupes of opera houses in Breslavl, Prague, Weber discovered outstanding conductor's abilities and talent as an organizer of the musical and theatrical business. Already in Breslau, at the very beginning of his conducting activity, Weber established new order placement of musicians in the opera orchestra - by groups of instruments. Weber anticipated the principle of placing instruments in the orchestra, which would become characteristic of the entire 19th and, to a certain extent, of the 20th century.

The eighteen-year-old conductor boldly and principledly carried out his innovations, despite the sometimes stubborn resistance of singers and musicians who adhered to the old traditions that had developed in provincial German theaters.

By 1807-1810, the beginning of literary and musical-critical activity of Weber belongs. He writes articles, reviews of performances, musical works, annotations to his compositions, begins the novel The Life of a Musician (1809).

In the works that appeared during the first period of Weber's independent creative life (1804-1816), the features of the future mature style of the composer are gradually revealed. During this period of creativity, the most artistically significant works of Weber are associated with the musical and dramatic genre:

• romantic opera Silvana (1810)
• singspiel "Abu Gasan" (1811)
• two cantatas and two symphonies (1807)
• a number of overtures and many instrumental works in other genres
• many individual arias, songs, choirs, among which stands out the cycle of heroic songs "Lyre and Sword" to the words of Theodor Koerner (1814, op. 41-43)

Thus, when at the beginning of 1817 Weber took the post of Kapellmeister of the Deutsche Oper in Dresden, he was already fully prepared to fight for the establishment of the German national musical and dramatic art. In the same year he married one of his former singers, Caroline Brandt.

The last, Dresden period of Weber's life

The last, Dresden period of Weber's life (1817-1826) is the pinnacle in the composer's work. Here his organizing and conducting activity took on an intensive character. The one and a half century tradition of the existence of an Italian opera theater in Dresden, the active opposition of the conductor of the Italian opera troupe F. Morlacchi, the resistance of court circles - all this complicated Weber's work. Despite this, in an unusual short term Weber managed not only to assemble a German opera troupe, but also to stage a number of excellent performances with the help of a new (and in many ways - professionally insufficiently trained) team (The Abduction from the Seraglio, The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, Fidelio, Jessonda by Spohr and many other). Museum Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden

During this period of Weber's activity, he wrote and staged the best works. Among them, the first place is occupied by the opera "Free Shooter".

A story rooted in folklore about a man who sold his soul to the devil for a few magic bullets, which allowed him to win the shooting competition, and with it the hand of the beautiful lady he loved. The opera presented for the first time everything that was familiar and sweet to the heart of every German. Simple country life with its crude humor and sentimental innocence. The surrounding forest, whose gentle smile hides supernatural horror. And above all - characters: from cheerful hunters and village girls to a simple, valiant hero and the prince who ruled over them.
The opera "Free Gun" made Weber a national hero

All this grew together with melodic, delightful music and turned into a mirror in which every German could find his reflection. With the help of The Free Gunner, Weber was not only able to free German opera from French and Italian influences, but also laid the foundations for one of the main forms of opera in the 19th century. The brilliant victory of the triumphant premiere of the ingenious "Free Gunner" (June 18, 1821 in Berlin) marked Weber's major achievements on the chosen path, making him a national hero.

Weber then proceeded to create the comic opera Three Pintos, which remained unfinished. Work on the new opera was interrupted by composing music for the play by P.A. Wolf's "Preciosa" (1820), in 1823 the first major heroic-romantic opera "Evryanta", written for Vienna, appeared. She was ambitious project and a great achievement, but failed due to an unsuccessful libretto.

In 1826, the fabulous Oberon, staged in London, adequately completed a brilliant series of Weber's operatic works. The motive for creating this opera was the desire to provide for the family so that after his death (which, he knew, was not far off), they could continue a comfortable existence.
In 1826, Weber's brilliant series of operatic works worthily completed the fabulous "Oberon"

In the form of the Oberon there was little of Weber's style, the structure was ponderous for a composer advocating a fusion of theatrical arts with opera. But it was this opera that he filled with the most exquisite music. Despite his rapidly declining health, Weber went to the premiere of his work. "Oberon" received recognition, the composer was honored, but he could hardly walk. Shortly before his scheduled return to Germany on June 5, he was found dead in his room. Opera reformer K. Weber

Weber's childhood passed in the atmosphere of a nomadic provincial theater. His mother was a singer, and his father was a violinist and leader of a small theater troupe. The excellent knowledge of the stage, acquired in childhood, was later very useful to Weber as an opera composer. Although constant traveling interfered with the study of music, at the age of 11, Karl Maria became an outstanding pianist virtuoso.

From the age of 18, Weber's independent activity as an opera conductor begins. For more than 10 years, he moved from place to place, without a permanent home and experiencing huge financial difficulties,worked as a pianist and conductor. Only in 1817 did Weber settle in Dresden.In 1817 he married the singer Caroline Brand.INDresdenWeber took over the leadership of the German musical theater andorganized the theater of the German opera, as opposed to the theater Italian opera under the leadership of Morlacchi.

The Dresden period was the pinnacle of his creative activity, Weber's best operas appeared: Free Gunner, Evryant, Oberon.

In the history of Western Europe musical culture Weber's name is associated primarily with the creation of a romantic German opera. The premiere of his "Free Gunner", held in Berlin on June 18, 1821 under the direction of the author, became an event historical significance. She put an end to the long domination of foreign, primarily Italian, opera music on the stages of German theaters.Simultaneously with The Free Shooter, two famous program pieces by Weber were created - the piano "Invitation to the Dance" and "Concert Piece" for piano and orchestra. Both works demonstrate the composer's characteristic brilliant concert style.

In search of ways to create a national national opera Weber turned to the latest German literature. The composer communicated personally with many German romantic writers.. Dramatic moments, loving, subtle features of musical expression, fantasy element- everything was available wide talent Weber. Most various images outlined by this musical poet with great sensitivity, melody, a rare expression. A patriot at heart, he not only developed folk melodies, but also created his own in a purely folk spirit.

Presentingin 1821 "Free shooter",Webersignificantly anticipated the romanticism of such composers as Bellini and Donizetti, who appeared ten years later, or Rossini, who staged William Tell in 1829. In general, 1821 was significant for the preparation of romanticism in music: at this time, Beethoven composed the Thirty-first Sonata op. 110 for piano, Schubert introduced the song "The King of the Forest" and began the Eighth Symphony, "Unfinished". Already in the overture of The Free Gunner, Weber moves towards the future and frees himself from the influence of the theater of the recent past, Spohr's Faust or Hoffmann's Ondine, or the French opera that influenced these predecessors.

The opera Evryanta is a romantic opera. The author of the libretto is Helmina von Chezy.

History based on works Giovanni Boccaccio, William Shakespeare, as well as medieval French novel"The story of Gerard de Nevers and the beautiful and virtuous Euryanta of Savoy, his dear."

The beautiful girl Evryant is betrothed to Count Adolard de Nevers. Count Liziart is also in love with her - in the presence of the monarch, he announces that he will achieve her love. Moreover, if he can prove that the girl is unfaithful to her fiancé, then Count Adollar will have to give his possessions to the self-confident count. Adoljar is confident in his beloved, and therefore, without a shadow of a doubt, accepts the terms of the dispute.

Eglantina, the daughter of a rebellious feudal lord, comes to the aid of Count Liziart. At one time, she was saved by Evryanta, but instead of gratitude, she hates the girl: after all, Evryanta turned out to be a more successful rival in love. Having won the trust of Evryants, Eglantine learns a terrible secret: Emma, ​​Adoljar's sister, once lost her fiancé. She could not cope with her grief and poisoned herself with poison from her ring. But everyone knows that a suicide cannot find peace until a tear of an innocent victim falls on the coffin. Eglantine takes the fatal ring from the coffin and gives it to Liziart. Then he presents the ring to the king and declares that Evryanta has become his mistress. The lands of Adoljar pass to the evil count, and the lost Adoljar wants to kill his former bride. Evryanta manages to convince the monarch that she is right: after all, she was slandered. From the shocks suffered, the girl loses consciousness, and everyone thinks that she died of grief. Meanwhile, Count Lisiart wants to marry Eglantine. But the girl almost lost her mind - she was tortured by remorse. She accidentally reveals the truth to Adoljar, who challenges Liziart to a duel. But he was not destined to take place: the king arrived. He informs the counts of the death of Evryanta. Eglantina rejoices, but not for long: in a fit of joy, she reveals the terrible secret of her betrayal and already Liziart kills her, then goes to execution. Adoljar repents of the disbelief of his beloved, who has gone so untimely into another world. But here the living Evryant, crying with joy, embraces her lover in her arms. Her tears gave Emma eternal rest.

In 1822 the composer received an order to write new opera by Domenico Barbaia. The head of the Vienna theater wanted to get a work in the folk spirit, with fantastic and colorful everyday scenes. The libretto was written by Helmina von Schezy. The text was edited 11 times due to the complexity of the plot and the limited scope of the scene. Musical accompaniment was written in a year and a half.

The opera Evryanta marked a new operatic genre. The score is different detailed drawing characters, choral and orchestral parts give the plot a special brightness.

Many critics consider the opera's plot to be initially confusing and illogical. Carl Maria von Weber directed the first four productions, the opera was a success. However, it is believed that this was the success of the author of the play rather than the play itself. And the reduction of Evryants after the departure of the composer made the work even more difficult to perceive.

- "Evryant" was dedicated to the Emperor of Austria Franz I.

- The first production of Evryanta with Henrietta Sontag in the title role was not successful. Then, the opera gained its well-deserved significance and was considered a prologue to Wagner's musical dramas. The images of Liziart and Eglantine in musical expression anticipate Ortrud and Telramund in Wagner's Lohengrin.

When Weber approached the Euryanta, Einstein writes, “his sharpest antipode, Spontini, had already, in a sense, cleared the way for him; at the same time, Spontini only gave the classical opera seria colossal, monumental dimensions thanks to crowd scenes and emotional tension. In Evryanta a new, more romantic tone appears, and if the public did not immediately appreciate this opera, then composers of the next generations deeply appreciated it.

The work of Weber, who laid the foundations of the German national opera (along with Mozart's The Magic Flute), determined the double meaning of his opera heritage, which Giulio Confalonieri writes well about: “As a faithful romantic, Weber found in legends and folk tales a source of music devoid of notes, but ready to sound ... Along with these elements, he also wanted to freely express his own temperament: Unexpected transitions from one tone to opposite, a daring convergence of extremes, coexisting with each other in accordance with the new laws of romantic Franco-German music, were brought to the limit by the composer, state of mind who, due to consumption, was constantly restless and feverish. This duality, which seems to contradict the unity of style and actually violates it, gave rise to a painful desire to leave, by virtue of the very life choice, from last meaning existence: from reality - with it, perhaps, only in the magical "Oberon" reconciliation is supposed, and even then partial and incomplete.Exhausted by a lot of organizational work and terminally ill, after a period of treatment in Marienbad (1824), Weber staged the opera Oberon (1826) in London, which was received with enthusiasm.

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Academic Symphony Orchestra Moscow Philharmonic conducted by Simonov

In the form of a kind of protest against the "gray everyday life" of real life, in search of an imaginary idyll and beauty, romantic poets created a wonderful enchanting world in their works. This world of romantic dreams was first given musical expression in Weber's Oberon. The composer gave it a playful, scherzo lighting.
The music of the opera seems to be imbued with a magical light. Pictures of nature (air dances of elves during moonlight, mermaids emerging from the sparkling ocean, flights of the spirits of air, water and earth) are conveyed by the sparkling, subtlest colors of the orchestra. With special virtuosity and expressiveness, the French horn and wooden wind instruments(clar-no, flutes).
The richness of the orchestral and harmonic palette is combined in Oberon with the utmost simplicity of musical forms. The bright melodiousness of the folk-household warehouse and dance rhythms permeate many numbers of this opera.

A magnificent Oberon Overture, built entirely on themes from the opera.

In terms of brilliance, subtlety, richness of colors, this overture stands out among all modern symphonic music. Many romantic composers followed the path blazed by Weber; Mendelssohn in the overture and scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Berlioz in the Mab Fairies scherzo, Schumann in Ariel's scene from Faust.

The exotic coloring of the traditionally comedy "oriental" scenes also turned out to be new in Oberon. In their music, Weber used an authentic oriental motif, recorded by one of the travelers in the East.

Interesting Facts

At the age of twelve, Weber composed his first comic opera"The Power of Love and Wine". The score of the opera was kept in a closet. Soon, in an incomprehensible way, a closet with contentsburned down. It should be noted that apart from the cabinet, nothing was damaged. Weber took this as a "sign from above" and decided to abandon music, devoting himself to lithography.
However, passion for musicdid not take place and at the age of fourteen Weber wrote a new opera "The Silent Forest Girl". The opera was first staged in 1800. Then it was staged quite often in Vienna, Prague and even St. Petersburg. After a very successful start musical career Weber stopped believing in omens and "signs from above."

The motto of Weber's work was the famous words that the composer asked to be placed in the form of his own autograph on the released engraving with his portrait: "Weber expresses the will of God, Beethoven - the will of Beethoven, and Rossini ... the will of the Viennese"

In Breslau with Weber happened tragic case which nearly cost him his life. He invited a friend to dinner, and while waiting for him sat down to work. Frozen while workingWeberdecided to warm himself with a sip of wine, but in the semi-darkness he took a sip from a wine flask in which Weber's father kept sulfuric acid for graviation works. The composer fell down lifeless. Weber's friend, meanwhile, was lateand came only with the onset of night. The composer's window was lit, but no one answered the knock. A friend pushed open the unlocked door and saw Weber's body lying lifeless on the floor. A broken flask was lying nearby, from which there was a pungent smell. To cries for help, Weber's father ran out of the next room, together they took the composer to the hospital. Weber was brought back to life, but his mouth and throat were terribly burned, and his vocal cords did not work. So Weber lost his beautiful voice. All later life he had to speak in a whisper. He once whispered to one of his friends:

They say Mozart was killed by Salieri, but I did without him ...

Weber was very fond of animals. His house resembled a zoo: the hunting dog Ali, the gray cat Maune, the capuchin monkey Shnuf and many birds surrounded the musician's family. The favorite was a large Indian raven - every morning he importantly said to the composer: "Good evening."
Once Carolina made a truly wonderful gift to her husband. Especially for Weber's birthday, costumes for animals were sewn, and the next morning a funny procession went to the birthday man's room - congratulations! .. Ali was turned into an elephant with a long trunk and big ears, but silk handkerchiefs replaced him. He was followed by a cat disguised as a donkey, with a pair of slippers instead of bags on her back. A monkey in a magnificent dress hobbled along, a hat with a huge feather coquettishly bouncing on its head ...
Weber jumped for joy like a child, and then something unimaginable began: he forgot about his sores, failures, and even about competing composers ... Animals and happy Weber rushed over chairs and tables, and a serious raven said to everyone an infinite number of times:

Good evening!

It is a pity that Rossini did not see this ...

From time to time, enthusiastic praises appeared in the Parisian newspapers for the greatest of the greatest maestro of all times and peoples - Weber. Moreover, laudatory articles unknown author were written with knowledge of all the subtleties of the composer's music. And it is not surprising, because these praises to Weber were sung by ... Weber himself.He was so in love with himself that with the consent of his wife, three of the four children were named after their father: Carl Maria, Maria Carolina and Carolina Maria.

Carl Maria von Weber - famous German composer and an 18th-century musician who was cousin to Mozart's wife. He made a great contribution to the development of music and theater. One of the founders of romanticism in Germany. by the most famous works the composer became his operas.

Carl Maria von Weber: biography. Childhood

Karl was born in the small German town of Eitin (Holstein). This event happened on December 18, 1786. His father was Franz Weber, who big love to music. He served as an entrepreneur in a traveling drama troupe.

The childhood years of the future musician passed among the nomads theater actors. This peculiar atmosphere greatly influenced the boy and determined his future. So, it was the theater troupe that instilled in him an interest in dramatic and musical genres, and also gave him knowledge about the laws of the stage and the musical specifics of dramatic art.

At a young age, Weber was also actively involved and interested in painting. However, his father and older brother tried to introduce him more to music. Franz, despite constant traveling, managed to give his son a good musical education.

First compositions

In 1796, Carl Maria von Weber studied piano in Hildburghausen, then studied the basics of counterpoint in Salzburg in 1707, then studied in Munich from 1798 to 1800 composing art with the court organist Calcherom. In the same years he took singing lessons.

Carl was seriously interested in music. And in 1798, under the guidance of J. M. Haydn, he even created several fughettas for the clavier. These were the composer's first works. Surprisingly, Carl Maria von Weber also began to write operas very early. Literally after the fugues, two of his major creations appeared, which we will discuss below, as well as a large mass, allemandes, ecossaises, and comic canons. But the singspiel “Peter Schmoll and His Neighbors”, created in 1801, had the greatest success. It was this work that won the approval of Johann Michael Haydn himself.

High post

In 1803, there was a significant development in the work of the future creator of the German romantic opera. This year Weber comes to Vienna, after a long journey throughout Germany. Here he met the then very famous music teacher Abbe Vogler. This man quickly noted the gaps that existed in Karl's musical and theoretical knowledge, and set about filling them. The composer worked hard and was highly rewarded. In 1804, as a seventeen-year-old boy, he was accepted as a kopellmeister, that is, a leader, at the Breslau Opera House, thanks to the patronage of Vogler. This event marked a new period of creativity and life of Weber, which includes the following time frame - from 1804 to 1816.

The beginning of the most important period of creativity

The musical works of Carl Maria von Weber at this time are undergoing a serious evolution. In general, since 1804, all the composer's work has changed. At this time, Weber's aesthetic views and worldview are taking shape, and musical talent appears most clearly.

In addition, Carl has real talent organizer in the musical and theatrical field. And traveling with the troupe to Prague and Breslavl discovered in him the ability of a conductor. But it was not enough for Weber to master the classical tradition; he strives to transform and correct everything. So, as a conductor, he changed the arrangement of musicians in the opera orchestra. Now they were grouped depending on the type of instrument. With this, the composer anticipated the principle of orchestral placement that would become popular in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The eighteen-year-old Weber defended his bold changes with all the ardor of youth, despite the resistance of musicians and singers seeking to preserve the tradition that had historically developed in German theaters.

Major works of this period

In 1807-1810, music-critical and literary activity Carl Maria von Weber. He begins to write reviews and articles about performances and musical works, begins a novel called "The Life of a Musician", writes annotations to his own compositions.

The works written during the entire first period of the composer's work make it possible to see how the features of the author's future, more mature and serious style are gradually becoming more and more vivid. At this time, Weber's musical and dramatic works acquire the greatest artistic significance, including:

• Singspiel "Abu Gasan".
• Opera "Sylvanas".
• Two symphonies and two untitled cantatas.

Also during this period, many overtures, songs, arias of choirs, etc. appeared.

Dresden period

At the very beginning of 1817, Carl Maria von Weber became Kapellmeister of the Dresden Deutsche Oper. In the same year, he married Caroline Brandt, an opera singer.

From this moment begins the most important and last period creativity of the composer, which will end in 1826 with his death. At this time, Weber's conducting and organizing activities take on a very intense character. At the same time, he had to face difficulties as a conductor and director. The innovations of Charles Maria were actively opposed theatrical traditions, ruling for almost a century and a half, as well as F. Morlacchi, conductor of the Italian opera troupe in Dresden. Despite all this, Weber managed to assemble a new German operatic troupe. Moreover, he managed to put on some excellent performances, despite the insufficiently prepared team.

However, one should not think that Weber the composer gave way to Weber the bandmaster. He managed to combine both of these roles and cope with them brilliantly. It was at this time that the best creations of the master, including his most famous opera, were born.

"Free Shooter"

The story told in this opera goes back to folk history about how a man sold his soul to the devil for magic dust, which helped him win the shooting competition. And the reward was the marriage to a beautiful lady, with whom the hero was in love. For the first time, something that is close and familiar to the heart of a German was embodied in the opera. Weber depicted a simple village life with sentimental naivete and crude humor. The forest, hiding otherworldly horror under a gentle smile, and heroes, ranging from village girls and merry hunters, ending with valiant and fair princes, fascinated.

This whimsical plot merged with beautiful music, and all this became a mirror reflecting every German. In this work, Weber not only freed German opera from Italian and French influence, but also managed to lay the foundations for the leading operatic form of the entire 19th century.

The premiere took place on June 18, 1821 and had dizzying success from the audience, and Weber became a real national hero.

The opera was later recognized greatest creation National German Romantic Theatre. The composer, taking the genre of the singspiel as a basis, used broad musical forms that made it possible to saturate the work with drama and psychologism. great place in the opera occupy deployed musical portraits heroes and everyday scenes associated with German folk songs. were very pronounced musical landscapes and fantastic episodes thanks to the richness of the orchestra created by Weber.

The structure of the opera and its musical features

The Free Gunner begins with an overture dominated by flowing horn melodies. A mysterious romantic picture of the forest is drawn before the viewer, the poetry of ancient hunting legends is heard. The main part of the overture describes the struggle of opposites. The introduction ends with a solemnly majestic coda.

The action of the first act takes place against the backdrop of massive cheerful scenes. We see pictures of peasant holidays, beautifully recreated thanks to the choral introduction, folk musical motives. The melody sounds like it is really played by village musicians, and the rustic unpretentious waltz is distinguished by its simplicity and naivety.

The aria of the huntsman Max, which is full of anxiety and confusion, contrasts sharply with the holiday. And in the drinking song of the second huntsman Kaspar, one can clearly hear a sharp rhythm that encourages swift action.

The second act is divided into two scenes that contrast with each other. In the first part, we first hear the carefree Arieta Angel, which serves to emphasize the spiritual purity and depth of feelings of her friend Agatha. The picture is filled with the alternation of song melodies and expressive recitatives, which help to better understand the girl's experiences. The final part is filled with joy, light and brilliance.

However, already in the second picture, dramatic tension begins to increase. And the main role here is given to the orchestra. The chords sound unusual, muffled and gloomy, terrifying, and the part of the choir hidden from the audience enhances the mystery. Weber managed to achieve a stunningly believable musical image rampant evil spirits and demonic forces.

The third act is also divided into two scenes. The first immerses the viewer in a calm, idyllic atmosphere. The part of Agatha is permeated with poetic light melancholy, and the choir of girlfriends is painted in soft tones, in which national motives are felt.

The second movement opens with a hunter's choir, accompanied by the sound of hunting horns. In this choir, German folk tunes are heard, which later gained worldwide popularity.

The opera ends with a detailed ensemble scene with a choir, accompanied by a joyful melody, a leitmotif running through the entire work.

Creation of "Oberon" and the last days of life

The fairy-tale opera Oberon was written in 1926; it completed a wonderful series of operatic works by the composer. Weber wrote it in order to provide for his family. The composer knew that he would soon die, and there would be no one else to take care of his loved ones.

"Oberon" in its form was completely different from the usual style of Weber. For a composer who has always advocated the fusion of opera with theatrical art, the structure of the work was ponderous. However, it was for this opera that Weber managed to create the most exquisite music. By the time Oberon was finished, the composer's health had deteriorated greatly, and he could hardly walk, nevertheless, Karl Maria did not miss the premiere. The opera received acclaim Once again critics and audiences praised Weber's talent.

Unfortunately, the composer did not have long to live. A few days after the premiere, he was found dead. It happened on June 5, 1826 in London. It was on this day that Weber was going to return to his homeland in Germany.

A monument to Weber was erected in Dresden in 1861.

First Youth Opera

The Silent Forest Girl, the composer's first major work, deserves special mention. The premiere of the opera took place in 1800 in Freiburg. Despite the youth and inexperience of the author, she was a success and won recognition. We can say that this production of this work was the beginning of Weber's composing career.

As for the opera, it was not forgotten and for a long time continued to appear in theater programs in Prague, Vienna, St. Petersburg and other cities of the world.

Other works

Weber left behind a wealthy creative legacy, which is almost impossible to list in full. But let's note the most significant of his works:

• 9 operas, including Three Pintos, Rubetzal, Silvana, Evryanta.
• Musical accompaniment to seven dramatic plays.
• Solo and choral vocal works include 5 masses, more than 90 songs, more than 30 ensembles, 9 cantatas, about 10 arrangements of folk songs.
• Piano compositions: 4 sonatas, 5 pieces, 40 duets and dances, 8 variation cycles.
• About 16 concertos for piano, clarinet, horn and bassoon.
• 10 pieces for orchestra and 12 for chamber ensemble.

Composer Weber was a very extraordinary person with his own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

For example, he hated someone else's glory. He was especially intolerant of Rossini. Weber constantly told friends and acquaintances that Rossini's music was mediocre, that it was just a fashion that would be forgotten in a few years.

A tragic accident led to the fact that Weber lost his beautiful voice. Once in Breslau, the composer was waiting for a friend for dinner, and in order not to waste time, he sat down to work. Weber quickly got cold and decided to warm himself with a sip of wine. But because of the evening twilight, he confused the flask with a drink with the one in which his father kept sulfuric acid. The composer took a sip and fell down lifeless. When his friend came, no one answered his knock, but there was light in the windows. He called for help, the door was opened, and Weber was quickly taken to the hospital. Doctors saved the composer's life, but his mouth, throat and vocal cords were so burned that he was forced to speak only in a whisper until the end of his days.

Weber was very fond of animals. A dog, a cat, many different birds and even a capuchin monkey lived in his house. Most of all, the composer loved the Indian raven, which could say: "Good evening."

Weber was egocentric. He loved himself so much that he even wrote laudatory articles about himself under a pseudonym, which were published from time to time in newspapers. But this was not the end of the matter. The composer loved himself so much that he named three of his four children by their proper names: Maria Carolina, Carl Maria, Carolina Maria.

Without a doubt, Weber was a very talented musician and composer who made an invaluable contribution to the development German art. Yes, this man was not without flaws and was distinguished by vanity, but every genius has his own quirks.

Weber was born into the family of a musician and theatrical entrepreneur, always immersed in various projects. Childhood and youth were spent wandering around the cities of Germany together with a small theater troupe of his father, which is why it cannot be said that in his youth he went through a systematic and strict music school. Almost the first piano teacher with whom Weber studied for a more or less long time was Heshkel, then, according to theory, Michael Haydn, and G. Vogler also took lessons.

As early as 1810, Weber drew attention to the plot of Freishütz (Free Shooter); but it was not until that year that he began to write an opera based on this subject, arranged by Johann Friedrich Kind. Freischütz, staged in 1821 in Berlin under the direction of the author, caused a positive sensation, and Weber's fame reached its zenith. "Our shooter hit right on target," Weber wrote to librettist Kind. Beethoven, surprised by Weber's work, said that he did not expect this from such a gentle person and that Weber should write one opera after another.

Prior to Freischütz, Wolff's Preciosa was staged the same year, with music by Weber.

By the proposal Vienna Opera the composer wrote "Evryant" (at 18 months). But the success of the opera was no longer as brilliant as Freishütz. The latest work Weber was the opera "Oberon", after the production of which in London in 1826, he soon died.

Monument to K. M. von Weber in Dresden

Weber is justly considered a purely German composer who deeply understood the nature of national music and brought the German melody to a high artistic perfection. Throughout his entire career he remained true to the national trend, and in his operas lies the foundation on which Wagner built Tannhäuser and Lohengrin. In particular, in "Evryant" the listener is seized by exactly the musical atmosphere that he feels in the works of Wagner of the middle period. Weber is a brilliant representative of the romantic operatic trend, which in the twenties of the XIX century was in such strength and which in later time found a follower in Wagner.

Weber's giftedness bubbles up in his last three operas: "Magic Arrow", "Euriante" and "Oberon". It is extremely varied. Dramatic moments, love, subtle features of musical expression, a fantastic element - everything was available to the composer's wide talent. The most diverse images are outlined by this musical poet with great sensitivity, rare expression, with great melody. A patriot at heart, he not only developed folk melodies, but also created his own in a purely folk spirit. Occasionally, his vocal melody at a fast pace suffers from some instrumentality: it seems to be written not for the voice, but for an instrument to which technical difficulties are more accessible. As a symphonist, Weber mastered the orchestral palette to perfection. His orchestral painting is full of imagination and is distinguished by a peculiar coloring. Weber is primarily an operatic composer; symphonic works, written by him for the concert stage, are far inferior to his opera overtures. In the field of song and instrumental chamber music, namely piano compositions, this composer left wonderful examples.

Weber also owns the unfinished opera Three Pintos (1821, completed by G. Mahler in 1888).

Weber erected a monument in Dresden, the work of Ritschel.

Max Weber, his son wrote a biography of his famous father.

Compositions

• Hinterlassene Schriften, ed. Hellem (Dresden, 1828);
• Karl Maria von W. Ein Lebensbild", Max Maria von W. (1864);
• Webergedenkbuch by Kohut (1887);
• "Reisebriefe von Karl Maria von W. an seine Gattin" (Leipzig, 1886);
• Chronol. thematischer Katalog der Werke von Karl Maria von W." (Berlin, 1871).

Of the works of Weber, in addition to those mentioned above, we point out the concertos for piano and orchestra, op. 11, op. 32; "Concert-stuck", op. 79; string Quartet, string trio, six sonatas for piano and violin, op. 10; grand concert duet for clarinet and piano, op. 48; sonatas op. 24, 49, 70; polonaises, rondos, variations for piano, 2 concertos for clarinet and orchestra, Variations for clarinet and piano, Concertino for clarinet and orchestra; andante and rondo for bassoon and orchestra, concerto for bassoon, "Auforderuug zum Tanz" ("Invitation à la danse"), etc.

operas

• "Forest Girl", 1800
• "Peter Schmoll and his neighbors" (Peter Schmoll und seine Nachbarn), 1802
• "Rubetzal", 1805
• Silvana, 1810
• Abu Hassan, 1811
• "Preciosa" (Preciosa), 1821
• "Free shooter" ("Magic shooter", "Freyschütz") (Der Freischütz), 1821 (premiered in 1821 at the Berliner Schauspielhaus)
• "Three Pintos" 1888. Unfinished. Completed by Mahler.
• "Euryanthe" (Euryanthe), 1823
• "Oberon" (Oberon), 1826

Bibliography

• Ferman V., Opera Theatre, M., 1961;
• Khokhlovkina A., Western European Opera, M., 1962:
• Koenigsberg A., Carl-Maria Weber, M. - L., 1965;
• Laux K., C. M. von Weber, Lpz., 1966;
• Moser H. J.. C. M. von Weber. Leben und Werk, 2 Aufl., Lpz., 1955.

Links

• Summary (synopsis) of the opera "Free Shooter" on the site "100 operas"
• Carl Maria Weber: Sheet Music at the International Music Score Library Project

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See what "Carl Maria von Weber" is in other dictionaries:

Not to be confused with Bernhard Weber, also a German composer .. Carl Maria von Weber (1786 1826), the founder of the German romantic opera, a composer with extensive knowledge of art, poetry and literature ... Wikipedia

- (Weber, Carl Maria von) CARL MARIA VON WEBER (1786 1826), the founder of German romantic opera. Karl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was born in Eutin (Oldenburg, now the land of Schleswig Holstein), November 18 or 19, 1786. His father, Baron Franz ... ... Collier Encyclopedia

Weber Karl Maria von (18 or 11/19/1786, Eitin, ‒ 5/6/1826, London), German composer, conductor, pianist, music writer. Founder of the German romantic opera. Born into the family of a musician and theatrical entrepreneur. Childhood and ... ... Big soviet encyclopedia

- (Weber) (1786 1826), German composer and conductor, music critic. Founder of German romantic opera. 10 operas (The Free Shooter, 1821; Evryant, 1823; Oberon, 1826), virtuoso concert pieces for piano. ("Invitation to ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Carl Maria Friedrich August (Ernst) von Weber (German Carl Maria von Weber; November 18 or 19, 1786, Eitin June 5, 1826, London) baron, German composer, conductor, pianist, music writer, founder of German romantic opera. Contents ... ... Wikipedia

- (18 (?) XI 1786, Eitin, Schleswig Holstein 5 VI 1826, London) The composer creates the world in it! this is how the outstanding German musician outlined the field of activity of the artist K. M. Weber: composer, critic, performer, writer, publicist, ... ... Music dictionary

- (Weber) Weber Karl Maria von Weber (1786 1826) German composer, conductor, music critic. The founder of the romantic direction in opera. From 1804 bandmaster in Breslau. From 1813 he was a theater conductor in Prague. Since 1817 ... ... Consolidated encyclopedia of aphorisms

Fon (1786-1826) German composer and conductor, music critic. Founder of German romantic opera. 10 operas (Free shooter, 1821; Evryant, 1823; Oberon, 1826), virtuoso concert pieces for piano (Invitation to dance, ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

WEBER, CARL MARIA VON(Weber, Carl Maria von) (1786–1826), founder of the German romantic opera. Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was born in Eutin (Oldenburg, now Schleswig-Holstein), on November 18 or 19, 1786. His father, Baron Franz Anton von Weber (uncle of Mozart's wife Constanza, née Weber), was an accomplished violinist and director of a traveling theater troupes. Karl Maria grew up in the atmosphere of the theater and took his first steps in music under the guidance of stepbrother, an excellent musician, who in turn studied with J. Haydn. Later, Weber studied composition with M. Haydn and G. Vogler. WITH young years Weber was attracted to opera; in 1813 he became director of the opera house in Prague (where he was one of the first to stage Fidelio Beethoven - an opera that until then had been performed only in Vienna). In 1816 he was invited to head the newly founded German opera in Dresden. European fame came to him after the Berlin premiere of his opera free shooter (Der Freischutz) in 1821. In the spring of 1826, Weber traveled to London to direct a production of his new opera Oberon (Oberon), written for the Covent Garden Theatre. However, the composer did not endure the hardships of the journey and died of tuberculosis in London on June 5, 1826.

As a true romantic, Weber is versatile: although the center of attraction for him was the opera, he also wrote an excellent instrumental music and achieved success as a concert pianist. In addition, Weber proved to be gifted music critic. At the age of 14, he mastered the lithographic printing method invented by A. Zenefelder (1771-1834), and even improved it. As Weber wrote to the Viennese publisher Artaria, this improvement made it possible "to engrave sheet music on stone with a result equal to that of the best English copper engravings."

Weberovsky free shooter- the first true romantic opera. Evryant (euryanthe, 1823) was an attempt to create a musical drama, and this work had a significant influence on Wagnerian Lohengrin. However, the composer, who was seriously ill by this time, did not fully cope with the difficulties of the task he had set, and Evryant had only a short success (only the overture to the opera became popular). The same applies to Oberon (oberon, 1826), based on Shakespeare's comedies Storm And A dream in a summer night. Although this opera has delightful elf music, lovely scenes of nature, and a captivating mermaid song in the second act, in our time only the inspirational overture to Oberon. Among Weber's writings in other genres, two can be noted piano concertos and the frequently performed concert piece for piano and orchestra; four sonatas; several cycles of variations and the famous An invitation to dance for piano solo (later instrumented by Hector Berlioz).