Der Freischütz, WeV C.7

Place of the action: Bohemia, shortly after the end of the Thirty Years’ War Performing time: full length

Characters: OTTOKAR, a sovereign prince in Bohemia (T) – CUNO, a heredary forester (B) – AGATHE, his daughter (S) – ÄNNCHEN, a young relative (S) – CASPAR, first assistant forester (B) – MAX, second assistant forester (T) – SAMIEL, the black Huntsman (Speaker) – Ein EREMIT (B) – KILIAN, a wealthy peasant ((B)Bar) CHOIR BRIDESMAIDS (S, A) – HUNTERS and ENTOURAGE (T, T, B, B) – PEASANTS and MUSICIANS (S, A, T, B) – SPIRITS (S, A, T, B)

Weber’s Freischütz has now finally arrived in Breitkopf & Härtel’s music theater catalog. Publication of a complete, practical Urtext edition of this legendary repertoire work was obviously needed. In order to publish the work in the form the composer had in mind, the edition had to draw upon the three main authentic components: Weber’s autograph, the first revised and reliable full-score edition of 1867 (Berlin: Schlesinger) – and, especially for the dialogue passages, Weber’s personal libretto exemplar, containing extremely telling deletions and additions. Plus, a word about the piano reduction: Gustav Rösler’s piano score, already published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1874, had provided a competent, authentic base, though now required detailed revision.