Der Freischütz

Carl Maria von Weber

A stellar cast performs this grand German Romantic opera with Véronique Gens wonderful as Agatha.

Veronique Gens wonderful as Agathe in Der Freischütz

By Henning Høholt

PARIS/FRANCE: Théâtre des Champs Élysées is doing an extraordinary good work by letting the audience get the possibility to listen to many operas, – and concerts, that the other Paris houses not are finding space for, and if they even has the same opera on their repertoire, at TCE we get the possibility to listen to other singers, also younger beautifull voices, and to concertant productions from other parts of Europe.

And Last but not least
. TCE makes its own productions of the one beautiful opera after the other, that should absolutely be found on the repertoire, but many houses are thinking cash, – what is selling – what is safe to show, and then interesting productions from brilliant operacomposers, dont find the way to the stage, if we haven´t had TCE to take the risk and opening up the doors for it. The audience loves it.

Thomas Hengelbrock is taking well care of the music in this Der Freisch¨tz concertant in Paris.

And in this case right now we got a visit from Hamburg with a concert verion of Der Freischütz with one of the most wonderful soprano voices today Veronique Gens in the leading female role.   Furthermore the coming monday we will enjoy the Enlevements de Seraillet by Mozart, also with a high quelity cast, And next month Theodora by Händel with Les Arts Florentins and William Christie, and one of the worlds leading countertenors today, Philippe Jarousky  in one of the leading roles. – And if somebody has forgotten it, it was with Les Arts Florentines that Philippe Jarousky made his real break thorugm when the for thefirst time sung Il Sant Alessio )from 1631) with William Christie in Caen, a peformance that was shortly after preented at Théâtre des Champs Élysees, and shortly after that all the opera world knew about Philippe Jarousky. – Please Read the review from Il sant Alessio (2007) at www.kulturkompasset.com –  Katherine Watson will sing the Titelrole in Theodora by Händel
.

But first: Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber

Opera in three acts (1820)
Libretto by Johann Friedrich Kind

Thomas Hengelbrock  direction, with Véronique Gens as Agathe, and Nikolai Schukoff as Max.

Der Freischüz, applaus, singers

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. Foto Henning Høholt

Der Freischütz, a work defying classification in which the supernatural and magic play an important role, is the cornerstone of German Romantic opera
. Wagner was the first to adopt this legacy, and Berlioz and Debussy expressed their unreserved admiration for it. Ever since the seminal Orfeo by Monteverdi, the supernatural has played a significant role in opera. However, Weber offers an alternative interpretation. There are no victorious gods or heroes in this piece, but a fantastical realm attuned to the human world
. It is as much about supernatural forces as freedom. Musicians must consciously conjure up the effect of orchestral writing imbued with an expressive power which is rarely ever heard.

Nikolai Schukoff in the titelrole in Der Freischütz.

The extraordinary overture is a brilliant illustration both of the major themes and the “blend of styles” which will be developed throughout the work. However, the fact that Der Freischütz defies classification lies in its taste for popular melodies and the importance of the role attributed to the chorus, which is a truly dynamic force. The work combines a quest and an initiation, and had an enormous impact on intellectual and artistic elites in the period following its creation in 1821. An entire generation was inspired by it.

Thomas Hengelbrock  direction

Véronique Gens  Agathe
Nikolai Schukoff  Max
Christina Landshamer  Annette
Yorck Felix Speer Kouno
Miljenko Turk  Ottokar
Franz-Josef Selig  The Hermit
Dimitry Ivashchenko  Gaspard

NDR Sinfonieorchester Hamburg
WDR Rundfunkchor Köln
NDR Chor Hamburg