Weber - Der Freischütz

Opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber (1821)

Direction : Marc Albrecht - Production : Herbert Fritsch

Opernhaus Zürich, September 21st  2016

Max (Christopher Ventris) - Picture: Hans Jörg Michel

Should you go?

Yes, for some great music with a light-hearted take on the libretto.

Why?

Marc Albrecht, the soloists, the Philharmonia Zürich and the Opernhaus' choir really do Weber's beautiful score justice.

Despite my very strong reservations against Herbert Fritsch (after his horrendous King Arthur), I enjoyed his take on Der Freischütz: he uses a much lighter touch here and instills juste the right amount (well, slightly too much, but nothing dramatic) of irony and mischief to make an otherwise boring story play well.


Swann