19 & 21 April programme PDF - London Symphony Orchestra

Carl Maria von Weber (1786–1826)
Der Freischütz (1821)
Sir Colin Davis conductor
Stephan Loges
Ottokar, Duke of Bohemia / Zamiel, the dark hunter bass-baritone
Martin Snell Kuno, head gamekeeper bass
Christine Brewer Agathe, the daughter of Kuno soprano
Sally Matthews Ännchen, a young cousin of Agathe soprano
Falk Struckmann Kaspar, a gamekeeper bass-baritone
Simon O’Neill Max, a gamekeeper tenor
Gidon Saks A hermit bass
Marcus Farnsworth Kilian, a rich peasant baritone
Lucy Hall Four Bridesmaids soprano
Malcolm Sinclair Narrator
London Symphony Chorus
An opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto in
German by Friedrich Kind and tonight performed with English surtitles
translated by Aidan Lang, and English narration by Amanda Holden.
Bohemia; the middle of the 17th century.
Kuno, the head Ranger, is soon to retire. Having no male heir, he has
settled the succession on Max, a young forester betrothed to Kuno’s
daughter Agathe. Max has only to pass the Trial Shot; but his skill has
suddenly deserted him. Without knowing it he has come under the
evil influence of his jealous colleague Kaspar, who has sold his soul to
Zamiel the demonic Black Huntsman. Kaspar has marked Max down
as the victim, the substitute who will earn him a further term of life.
The action begins on the eve of the day when Kaspar must meet
Zamiel, and Max, his nerve shaken, fire the Trial Shot.
4 Programme Notes
Overture
ACT ONE
A clearing in the forest, in front of an inn, towards evening;
a shooting match is just ending.
1 Introduction: ‘Victoria! der Meister soll leben’
March, Song (Kilian) with chorus
The peasants acclaim Kilian, who has beaten Max.
Narration
March, Song (Kilian) with chorus
Peasants, marching in procession and led by the village
band, celebrate the victory. Kilian taunts Max, and all join in
jeering at him.
Narration
2 ‘O diese Sonne!’
Trio (Max, Kaspar, Kuno), chorus of peasants and huntsmen
Max laments the ill-luck that dogs him; how will he bear the loss
of Agathe? Kuno and the peasants urge him to trust in God.
Huntsmen enter the clearing, impatient for the hunt.
Narration
3 Waltz – Recitative: ‘Nein, länger trag’ ich nicht die Qualen’
Aria: ‘Durch die Wälder, durch die Auen’
Max
Kilian tries to persuade Max to join their dance, but he refuses.
Alone, but watched by Zamiel, he gives way to despair.
He remembers his careless delight in the life of the woods and
in Agathe’s love, and imagines her now, watching for him at her
window, longing for news of his victory. But some dark power
controls his destiny.
Narration