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

Carl Maria von Weber. operas

Weber's childhood passed in the atmosphere of a wandering 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 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 a theater German opera as opposed to 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 folk-national opera, Weber turned to the latest German literature. With many German romantic writers, the composer spoke personally. Dramatic moments, love, subtle features of musical expression, a fantastic element - everything was available to Weber's wide talent. The most varied images are 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.

The story is based on the works of Giovanni Boccaccio, William Shakespeare, as well as the 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 a new opera from 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 opera genre. The score is distinguished by a detailed portrayal of 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 " magic flute» Mozart), led to the dual 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.emaciated large 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 in the moonlight, mermaids emerging from the sparkling ocean, flights of the spirits of air, water and earth) are conveyed by the orchestra's sparkling, subtlest colors. 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 pierce 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 "Dream in midsummer night”, Berlioz in the Mab Fairies scherzo, Schumann in the scene of Ariel 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 pass and at the age of fourteen Weber wrote new opera"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 to his 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, Weber had a tragic accident that almost 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 the wine flask in which Father Weber 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 up, 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 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. 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 had a great love for music. He served as an entrepreneur in a traveling drama troupe.

The childhood years of the future musician passed among nomadic 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 in Salzburg he 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.

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 new period 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, Karl reveals a real talent as an 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, 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 "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 that time highest value V artistically acquire Weber's musical and dramatic works, 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 leader. The innovations of Charles Maria were actively opposed by the theatrical traditions that ruled for almost a century and a half, as well as by 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 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 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 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 extended musical portraits heroes and everyday scenes associated with folk German 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 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 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.

In 1861, a monument to Weber was erected.

First Youth Opera

"Silent Forest Girl", the first major work composer 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 Prague, Vienna, 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 the oral cavity, 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.

No doubt Weber was very talented musician and a 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.

Biography

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 he went through a systematic and strict music school in his youth. Almost the first piano teacher, with whom Weber studied for more or less a long time, was Johann Peter Heushkel, then, according to theory, Michael Haydn, lessons were also taken from G. Vogler. - the first works of Weber appeared - small fugues. Weber was then a student of the organist Kalcher in Munich. More thoroughly the theory of composition Weber subsequently went through with Abbot Vogler, having fellow students Meyerbeer and Gottfried Weber; at the same time he studied piano with Franz Lauska. Weber's first stage experience was the opera Die Macht der Liebe und des Weins. Although he wrote a lot in his early youth, his first success came with his opera Das Waldmädchen (1800). The 14-year-old composer's opera was given on many stages in Europe and even in St. Petersburg. Subsequently, Weber reworked this opera, which, under the name "Sylvanas", held on for a long time on many German opera stages.

Having written the opera "Peter Schmoll und seine Nachbarn" (1802), symphonies, piano sonatas, the cantata "Der erste Ton", the opera "Abu Hassan" (1811), he conducted the orchestra in different cities and gave concerts.

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

Compositions

  • Hinterlassene Schriften, ed. Hellem (Dresden, 1828);
  • "Karl Maria von W. Ein Lebensbild", by 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, "Aufforderung zum Tanz" ("Invitation à la danse"), etc.

operas

  • "Forest Girl" (German) Das Waldmadchen), 1800 - isolated fragments survive
  • "Peter Schmol and his Neighbors" (German) Peter Schmoll and Seine Nachbarn ), 1802
  • "Rubetzal" (German) Rubezahl), 1805 - isolated fragments survive
  • "Sylvanas" (German) Silvana), 1810
  • "Abu Hasan" (German) Abu Hassan), 1811
  • "Free Shooter" (German) Der Freischutz), 1821
  • "Three Pintos" (German) Die drei Pintos) - not finished; completed by Mahler in 1888.
  • Evryanta (German) Euryanthe), 1823
  • "Oberon" (German) Oberon), 1826

In astronomy

  • The asteroid (527) Evryanta is named after the protagonist of Carl Weber's opera "Evryanta" (English)
  • The asteroid 528 Rezia is named after the heroine of Karl Weber's Oberon. (English) Russian , opened in 1904
  • The asteroid (529) Preciosa is named after the heroine of Karl Weber's opera Preciosa. (English) Russian opened in 1904.
  • Asteroids named after heroines of Carl Weber's opera Abu Hasan (865) Zubaid (English) Russian and (866) Fatma (English) Russian opened in 1917.

Bibliography

Dresden. Grave of Carl Maria von Weber and his family

  • Ferman V., Opera Theatre, M., 1961;
  • Khokhlovkina A., Western European Opera, M., 1962:
  • Koenigsberg A., Carl-Maria Weber, M. - L., 1965;
  • Bialik M. G. Opera creativity Weber in Russia // F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and Traditions of Musical Professionalism: Collection scientific papers/ Comp. G. I. Ganzburg. - Kharkov, 1995. - C. 90 - 103.
  • Laux K., C. M. von Weber, Lpz., 1966;
  • Moser H. J.. C. M. von Weber. Leben und Werk, 2 Aufl., Lpz., 1955.

Notes

Links

  • Works by Weber at Classical Connect Free Library classical music on Classical Connect
  • Summary (synopsis) of the opera "Free Shooter" on the site "100 operas"
  • Carl Maria Weber: sheet music of works at the International Music Score Library Project

Categories:

  • Personalities in alphabetical order
  • Born in Oitina
  • Deceased in London
  • Composers of Germany
  • opera composers
  • Romantic composers
  • Composers alphabetically
  • Born in 1786
  • Deceased in 1826
  • who died of tuberculosis
  • Founders of national opera art
  • Musicians alphabetically

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

    - (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) (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

    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 ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was born November 18, 1786 in Eutin. The father dreamed of his son's musical career and in every possible way contributed to music lessons. The family moved a lot, but in each new city, teachers were always found for Karl. He wrote his first work in Salzburg under the direction of Michael Haydn, it was published and received positive reviews in press. In 1798 Weber's mother died. The family moves again, this time to Munich. Here Karl wrote the first opera, The Power of Love and Wine. Two years later, the premiere of the opera The Forest Girl took place in Freiburg. The father tried to give his son as a student to Joseph Haydn, but he refused.

Thanks to his success in conducting, in 1804 Weber led a theater orchestra in the city of Breslau. Under his leadership, the orchestra is undergoing some reformation: Karl re-seats the orchestra members, appoints separate rehearsals of ensembles to learn new parts, interferes in productions, and also introduces dress rehearsals. These changes were received ambiguously by the musicians and the public. Shortly after Weber's acid poisoning accident, opponents of his reform put everything back where it was.

On September 16, 1810, the premiere of his opera Silvana was successfully held in Frankfurt. Inspired, he writes "Abu Gasan", and six months later he goes on a concert tour. In April 1812, while in Berlin, Weber learns of his father's death. Here he writes clavier music and is engaged in the processing of "Sylvanas". IN next year, during a visit to Prague, he is offered to head the city theater. Without much hesitation, he agrees, for him it was a great opportunity to realize his ideas and pay off his debts. November 19, 1816 Weber announces his engagement to Caroline Brandt. Inspired by this event, he writes two piano sonatas, a concerto for clarinet and piano, as well as several songs.

In 1817, Weber was invited to the post of musical director of the Dresden German Opera. On November 4, he married Caroline Brandt. In Dresden, he writes his best work - "Free Shooter". However, work on the opera continued for a long period. She was overshadowed by the death of the composer's little daughter and the illness of his wife. In addition, Weber had many orders that he could barely handle. The premiere of The Free Gunner took place on June 18, 1821 in Berlin. Weber was a success. Beethoven, fascinated by the music, said that Weber should henceforth write only operas.

At this time, the composer's lung disease progresses. In 1823, he completed the opera Euryanta, which was also very successfully accepted by the audience, and then, during a stubborn struggle with his illness, he wrote Oberon. Premiered in London unprecedented success. This was the first time in the history of the capital's stage that the composer was asked to take the stage.



Plan:

    Introduction
  • 1 Biography
  • 2 Compositions
    • 2.1 Operas
  • 3 Bibliography
  • Notes

Introduction

Not to be confused with Bernhard Weber, also a German composer.

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


1. Biography

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 he went through a systematic and strict music school in his youth. Almost the first piano teacher with whom Weber studied for a more or less long time was Johann Peter Heuschkel, then, according to theory, Michael Haydn, and G. Vogler also took lessons. 1798 - Weber's first works appeared - small fugues. Weber was then a student of the organist Kalcher in Munich. More thoroughly the theory of composition Weber subsequently went through with Abbot Vogler, having fellow students Meyerbeer and Gottfried Weber; at the same time he studied piano with Franz Lauska. Weber's first stage experience was the opera Die Macht der Liebe und des Weins. Although he wrote a lot in his early youth, his first success came with his opera Das Waldmädchen (1800). The 14-year-old composer's opera was given on many stages in Europe and even in St. Petersburg. Subsequently, Weber reworked this opera, which, under the name "Sylvanas", held on for a long time on many German opera stages.

Having written the opera "Peter Schmoll und seine Nachbarn" (1802), symphonies, piano sonatas, the cantata "Der erste Ton", the opera "Abu Hassan" (1811), he conducted the orchestra in different cities and gave concerts.

1804 - worked as a conductor of opera houses (Breslavl, Bad Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin).

1805 - wrote the opera "Ryubetsal" based on the fairy tale by I. Museus.

1810 - opera "Sylvanas".

1811 - opera "Abu-Ghassan".

1813 - headed the opera house in Prague.

1814 - becomes popular after composing martial songs on the verses of Theodor Kerner: "Lützows wilde Jagd", "Schwertlied" and the cantata "Kampf und Sieg" ("Battle and Victory") (1815) on the text of Wollbruck on the occasion of the Battle of Waterloo. The jubilee overture, the masses in es and g, and the cantatas then written in Dresden were much less successful.

1817 - headed and until the end of his life directed the German musical theater in Dresden.

1819 - back in 1810, Weber drew attention to the plot of "Freyschütz" ("Free shooter"); but it was not until this year that he began to write an opera based on this story, reworked 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.

In 1821 he gave lessons in the theory of composition to Julius Benedict, to whom Queen Victoria, for his talent, would later grant title of nobility.

1822 - at the suggestion of the Vienna Opera, the composer wrote "Evryant" (at 18 months). But the success of the opera was no longer as brilliant as Freishütz.

Weber's last work was the opera Oberon, which he traveled to London to present and died at the home of the conductor George Smart shortly after the premiere.

Monument to K. M. von Weber in Dresden

Weber is justly considered a purely German composer who deeply understood the warehouse 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 opera trend, which in the twenties 19th century was in such force and which in later times found a follower in Wagner.

Weber's gift is in full swing in his three latest operas: « magic arrow”, “Evryante” and “Oberone”. 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 samples.

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

1861 - A monument was erected to Weber in Dresden, by Ernst Rietschel.

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


2. Compositions

  • Hinterlassene Schriften, ed. Hellem (Dresden, 1828);
  • "Karl Maria von W. Ein Lebensbild", by 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, "Aufforderung zum Tanz" ("Invitation à la danse"), etc.


2.1. operas

  • "Forest Girl" (German) Das Waldmadchen), 1800 - isolated fragments survive
  • "Peter Schmol and his Neighbors" (German) Peter Schmoll and Seine Nachbarn ), 1802
  • "Rubetzal" (German) Rubezahl), 1805 - isolated fragments survive
  • "Sylvanas" (German) Silvana), 1810
  • "Abu Hasan" (German) Abu Hassan), 1811
  • "Magic Shooter" (German) Der Freischutz), 1821
  • "Three Pintos" (German) Die drei Pintos) - not finished; completed by Mahler in 1888.
  • Evryanta (German) Euryanthe), 1823
  • "Oberon" (German) Oberon), 1826

3. Bibliography

  • Ferman V., Opera Theatre, M., 1961;
  • Khokhlovkina A., Western European Opera, M., 1962:
  • Koenigsberg A., Carl-Maria Weber, M. - L., 1965;
  • Bialik M. G. Weber's opera in Russia // F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and the traditions of musical professionalism: Collection of scientific works / Comp. G. I. Ganzburg. - Kharkov, 1995. - C. 90 - 103.
  • Laux K., C. M. von Weber, Lpz., 1966;
  • Moser H. J.. C. M. von Weber. Leben und Werk, 2 Aufl., Lpz., 1955.

Notes

  1. Benedict, Sir Julius - en.wikisource.org/wiki/ESBE/Benedict,_Sir_Julius // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
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This abstract is based on an article from the Russian Wikipedia. Synchronization completed on 07/09/11 16:46:33
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