4 VII Friday

18:30

The Marksman (Der Freischütz) | C. M. von Weber | Screening from Bregenz 2024

A Romantic Legend on Water

Duration: 2 hours 9 minutes

Following the spectacular success of Rigoletto, the Bregenz Festival returns with a new production—Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber will be performed for the first time on the festival’s world-famous floating stage on Lake Constance. Director Philipp Stölzl and conductor Enrique Mazzola transport the audience into the dark depths of German Romanticism, where love, hope, and the seductive forces of evil intertwine in a thrilling spectacle full of drama and stunning visual effects.

“A bullseye!”—these were the words of Carl Maria von Weber after the premiere of Der Freischütz in 1821. More than two centuries later, this opera—considered the quintessential German Romantic opera—comes to life anew in its first-ever staging on Bregenz’s iconic Seebühne.

Director and set designer Philipp Stölzl, known for his bold and visually refined productions, creates a performance that hovers between dream and reality, blending traditional Romanticism with modern theatrical techniques. Tenor Mauro Peter takes the role of Max, joined by Nikola Hillebrand as Agathe, Liviu Holender as Kaspar, and Franz Hawlata as Kuno. The production features the chorus of the Bregenz Festival and the Prague Philharmonic Choir, with resident conductor Enrique Mazzola leading the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

This screening is a must for opera lovers, fans of theatrical grandeur, and those with a passion for German musical and cultural heritage. Der Freischütz is a story of fear, fate, and hope—and in this staging, also a celebration of the boundless possibilities of modern opera direction.