1. 19 th Century German Opera February 11 th, 2004

2. German Romantic Opera Influences: Singspiel; French opera; nationalism, German literature Unique features of German Romantic opera: Use of simple folk-like melodies German nationalism Increasingly chromatic harmony Orchestral colour for dramatic expression Established with Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz, premiered in 1821 in Berlin

3. Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) Biographical information Composer, conductor, pianist, critic, opera director He sought to promote art and shape the emerging middle-class audiences to its appreciation Output: songs, choral music, piano music, opera overtures and operas Composed various operas, Der Freischütz most popular

4. Der Freischütz Composed: 1817-1820; premiered 1821 Librettist: Friedrich Kind Plot sources: medieval history, legend, fairy tale, supernatural beings, nature/wilderness Derived from folklore and Goethe’s Faust Excerpt: Wolf Glen’s Scene, Act II, Finale

5. Richard Wagner (1813-83) Recognized as the most outstanding composer of German opera Crucial figure in 19thC music Brought German opera to its peak Created a new genre: music drama Hastened dissolution of tonality Active and published writer in his time Reception: affected by political, ethnic and religious policies and issues (Judaism in Music, 1850/1869) Wagner’s anti-semitism fostered his acceptance in Germany

6. Wagner’s Music Wagner’s ideals: music serves dramatic expression Wrote own librettos: often based on German legend Opera and Drama (1851, rev. 1868) Gesamtkunstwerk Leitmotif Bayreuth: opera house built to Wagner’s specifications 1850s-1860s: cycle of 4 music dramas – Das Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelungs) Das Rheingold (the Rhine Gold, 1857) Die Walküre (The Valkyrie, 1857) Siegfried (1857) Gotterdämmerung (The Twilight of the Gods, 1871) E.g. Tristan und Isolde (1857-59)