Carl Maria von Weber - composer, founder of German romantic opera: biography and creativity

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

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

Carl Maria von Weber: biography. Childhood years

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

Childhood years of the future musician passed among nomadic theatrical 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 interested in painting. However, his father and older brother tried to introduce him more tomusic. 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 in Salzburg studied the basics of counterpoint in 1707, then in Munich from 1798 to 1800 he studied composition with the court organist Kalcherom. In the same years he took singing lessons.

Karl is 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 position

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, he, a seventeen-year-old youth, was accepted as a kopellmeister, that ishead, to the Breslav 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 take shape, and musical talent manifests itself most clearly.

Besides this, Carl shows a real talent as an organizer in the musical and theatrical sphere. 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, the musical-critical and literary activity of Carl Maria von Weber begins. He begins to write reviews and articles about performances and musical works, begins a novel called "Lifemusician", he writes annotations to his compositions.

The works written during the entire first period of the composer's work make it possible to see how the features of the future, more mature and serious style of the author 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 Silvana.
• Two symphonies and two un titled 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 of the composer's work, 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 by the theatrical traditions that dominated for almost a century and a half, as well as by F. Morlacchi, the 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 succeededcombine both of these roles and brilliantly cope with them. It was at this time that the master's best creations were born, including his most famous opera.

Free Gunner

The story told in this opera comes from a folklore story 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 portrayed simple country life with sentimental naivety 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 it all became a mirror that reflects 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 was a dizzying success with the audience, and Weber became a real national hero.

Later, the opera was recognized as the greatest creation of the national German romantic theater. 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. A large place in the opera is occupied by detailed musical portraits of heroes and everyday scenes associated with folk Germansongliness. Musical landscapes and fantastic episodes were expressed very vividly thanks to the richness of the orchestra created by Weber.

The structure of the opera and its musical features

"Free Gun" 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 unfolds against the backdrop of massive cheerful scenes. We see pictures of peasant holidays, beautifully recreated thanks to the choral introduction, folk musical motifs. The melody sounds like it really is played by village musicians, and the rustic w altz is simple and naive.

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 the 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, it begins to increasedramatic tension. 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 plausible musical image of 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 chorus of hunters 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, the leitmotif running through the whole work.

The creation of Oberon and the last days of life

The fairy-tale opera Oberon was written in 1926, it completed a wonderful series of opera 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 the 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 the writing of "Oberon" was completed, the composer's he alth was very strong.staggered, and he could hardly walk, nevertheless Karl Maria did not miss the premiere. The opera received recognition, once again the critics and the audience 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 continued to appear in theater programs in Prague, Vienna, St. Petersburg and other cities of the world for a long time.

Other works

Weber left behind a rich creative heritage, 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, over 90 songs, over 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.

Interesting facts

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

For example, he hated other people's fame. He was especially intolerant of Rossini. Weber constantly told his 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 caused Weber to lose 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 of German art. Yes, this man was not without flaws and was distinguished by vanity, but every genius has his own quirks.