Featured artists:
James Conlon, Herbert Blomstedt, Roger Norrington, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Ben Heppner, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Edda Moser, Nicolai Gedda, Claudio Arrau, Thierry de Brunhoff, Gidon Kremer, Barry Tuckwell, Sharon Kam, Gervase de Peyer, Sabine Meyer, Paul Crossley, Consortium Classicum Hermann Prey
A Cosmopolitan Artist vs. Nationalistic Labeling: Although history often labels Weber as the “inventor of German national opera”– fueled by the massive success of Der Freischütz and later nationalistic praise from figures like Richard Wagner – he was actually a worldly, open-minded person. He avoided nationalistic thinking, learned multiple languages (French, Italian, English, Czech), and drew musical inspiration from diverse cultures, including Spain, Asia, and the Middle East.
The Path to Professional Mastery: Weber’s early life was difficult, marked by a physical hip deformity and a father who tried to market him as a “new Mozart”. Despite this rocky start and early reputation as a “conceited brat”, he developed into a disciplined professional through rigorous training under Abbé Vogler and years of practical experience managing theaters in Breslau, Prague, and Dresden.
Success through the Clarinet and Opera: Weber’s breakthrough was closely tied to his collaboration with clarinetist Heinrich Joseph Baermann. His mastery of the clarinet’s technical possibilities led to famous concertos that paved the way for his operatic triumphs. His masterpiece, Der Freischütz, became a cultural phenomenon, praised for its “Wolf’s Glen” scene and its balance between romantic nature and demonic forces.
A Life of Discipline Amidst Adversity: Weber’s career was defined by “passion and discipline”. He balanced a high-pressure professional life with personal challenges, including legal and financial troubles in Stuttgart, a long-pursued marriage to Caroline Brandt, and a lifelong battle with tuberculosis. He died in London at only 39 years old, shortly after the successful premiere of his final opera, Oberon.
