Composer

Carl Maria von Weber

1786 — 1826

About

Concerts and Operas

Harnoncourt conducts Weber: Der Freischütz

Zurich Opera

Opera158 Min

Karajan conducts Overtures by Beethoven, Rossini, Wagner & Weber

Berliner Philharmoniker

Concert55 Min

Karajan conducts the New Year's Eve Concert 1985

Berliner Philharmoniker

Concert54 Min

Mehta conducts Weber, Beethoven and Liszt – with Lisa Batiashvili

Munich Philharmonic

Concert74 Min

Europakonzert 2017 from Paphos – with Mariss Jansons

Berliner Philharmoniker

Concert89 Min

Hilary Hahn & the Berliner Philharmoniker at Suntory Hall

Tokyo, 2000

Concert99 Min

Albums

Weber: Complete Piano Sonatas

Garrick Ohlsson

Weber: Chamber Music

The Gaudier Ensemble

Weber: Clarinet & Bassoon Concertos

Karl Leister, Milan Turkovic, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Kammerensemble, Bamberger Symphoniker, Rafael Kubelík, Hanns-Martin Schneidt

Weber: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Konzertstück (Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto 10)

Nikolai Demidenko, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras

Weber: Clarinet Concertos – Rossini: Introduction, Theme & Variations

Charles Neidich, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Weber: Invitation to the Dance

Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan

Weber: Clarinet Concerto No. 2 – Crusell: Clarinet Concerto No. 2

Thea King, London Symphony Orchestra, Alun Francis

Weber: Der Freischütz, J. 277

Gundula Janowitz, Edith Mathis, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Staatskapelle Dresden, Carlos Kleiber

Appears On

Fischer-Dieskau Lieder A-Z: Weber – Zemlinsky (Complete Lieder Recordings on DG & Decca)

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Karajan: Wagner - Wolf-Ferrari

Herbert von Karajan

Abbado A-Z: Schumann – Tchaikovsky

Claudio Abbado

Hope@Home

Daniel Hope

Wilhelm Furtwängler: Post-war Radio Recordings (Vol. 5)

Wilhelm Furtwängler

Wilhelm Furtwängler: Wartime Recordings (Vol. 4)

Wilhelm Furtwängler

Wilhelm Furtwängler: Early Polydor Recordings (Vol. 3)

Wilhelm Furtwängler

Blue Hour – Weber, Brahms, Mendelssohn

Andreas Ottensamer, Yuja Wang, Berliner Philharmoniker, Mariss Jansons

About

Carl Maria von Weber

Carl Maria von Weber was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist and critic who was one of the first significant composers of the Romantic era. Best known for his operas, he was a crucial figure in the development of German "Romantische Oper" (Romantic Opera) and laid the foundations for Wagner's later reforms. The young Weber's musical training was conducted against the background of the vicissitudes of his father's career as an itinerant violinist and impresario who introduced his son to his profession with a hands-on approach that fired the boy's love of the theatre. His early teachers included Michael Haydn and the Abbé Vogler, and it was Vogler who recommended the then 17-year-old youth for the post of conductor at the Breslau Theatre. Weber left the post two years later and, after a period as intendant to Duke Eugen of Württemberg-Öls, became secretary to the duke's brother, Ludwig, in Stuttgart in 1807. Throughout this period he continued to take an interest in literature and poetry. In 1817, he was appointed Royal Saxon Kapellmeister at the German Opera in Dresden, where he remained until his death nine years later. Although he also wrote instrumental music, Weber is remembered above all for three operas, Der Freischutz, which earned him a European reputation, Euryanthe, and Oberon, which was first performed in English at Covent Garden. Following in the wake of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte and Beethoven's Fidelio, Weber's operas represent a further stage on the road to the goal of a national German opera that was to be reached only a few years later in Wagner's early music dramas. Already a sick man when he arrived in London to superintend the rehearsals of Oberon in 1826, Weber died in the English capital from pulmonary tuberculosis and was buried in Moorfields Chapel. In 1844, Wagner arranged for his mortal remains to be brought back to Dresden and delivered a funeral oration worthy of the occasion.

The Fascinating Life and Legacy of Carl Maria von Weber

Carl Maria von Weber was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and critic, widely recognized as one of the first significant composers of the Romantic era. Born on November 18, 1786, in Eutin, Germany, Weber’s innovative spirit and theatrical flair positioned him as a crucial figure in the development of German Romantic opera (Romantische Oper). His most celebrated works—Der Freischütz (1821), Euryanthe (1823), and Oberon (1826)—are cornerstones of the operatic repertoire and laid the foundation for the dramatic reforms later advanced by Richard Wagner.

Weber’s musical journey was shaped by his father’s itinerant career and rigorous training with notable teachers, including Michael Haydn and the Abbé Vogler. This exposure to the stage and diverse musical traditions ignited his passion for opera and theater. In his relatively short life (he died at age 39 from pulmonary tuberculosis in London in 1826), Weber also composed acclaimed instrumental works, such as his clarinet concertos and the Konzertstück for piano and orchestra.

Development of "Romantische Oper" Through Weber's Score

Weber's contribution to the development of Romantische Oper is significant. His innovative use of orchestration, combined with his dramatic flair, helped to define the genre and lay the groundwork for future composers like Wagner. His operas are a testament to his unique ability to blend musical elements with dramatic storytelling, creating a new form of opera that would come to define the Romantic era.

Notable Works of Weber that Transformed Romantic Music

Weber's most notable works, including Der Freischütz, Euryanthe, and Oberon, transformed the landscape of Romantic music. These operas, with their innovative use of orchestration and dramatic storytelling, are considered cornerstones of the operatic repertoire. They not only defined the Romantische Oper genre but also laid the foundation for the dramatic reforms later advanced by Richard Wagner.

Notable Recordings and Performances

Weber's music continues to be performed and recorded by leading international orchestras and artists. Some notable recordings and performances include "Harnoncourt Conducts Weber: Der Freischütz" by the Zurich Opera, "Karajan Conducts Overtures" (Beethoven, Rossini, Wagner & Weber) by the Berliner Philharmoniker, and "Karajan’s New Year’s Eve Concert 1985" by the Berliner Philharmoniker. These recordings showcase the enduring appeal and influence of Weber's music.