Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Karajan, Herbert von

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Composer: Weber, Carl Maria von

Der Freischutz, J. 277

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Venue: Philharmonie, Berlin

Date of Concert: 1975

Playing Time: 00:10:52

Television Director: Wild, Ernst

Catalogue Number: A05500590

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First performed in Berlin in 1821, Weber's Der Freischutz quickly became one of the most celebrated German operas, and its overture one of the most popular in all of music literature. The overture follows a symphonic form that determines the thematic unity of the work. Surprisingly innovative for its time, it announces the programmatic works of Berlioz and Liszt, as well as Wagner's first overtures. The fresh and limpid music evokes the fairytale setting of the opera, with its ghosts, evil spirits, seven charmed bullets, loving couple, friendly hermit and happy ending. This recording of the Freischutz Overture dates from 1975 and is part of an overture special directed by Herbert von Karajan and produced with the Berlin Philharmonic for Unitel.