Der Freischütz or The Freeshooter is a German opera with spoken dialogue in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It premiered on June 18, 1821 at the Schauspielhaus Berlin.
It is considered the first important German Romantic opera. The opera's plot is mainly based on August Apel's tale "Der Freischütz" from the Gespensterbuch though the hermit, Kaspar and Ännchen are new to Kind's libretto. That Weber's tunes were just German folk music is a common misconception. Its unearthly portrayal of the supernatural in the famous Wolf's Glen scene has been described as "the most expressive rendering of the gruesome that is to be found in a musical score
Cast:
Agathe - Birgit Nilsson
Annchen - Erika Koth
Kaspar - Walter Berry
Max - Nicolai Gedda
Max Heger - conductor
Bavarian State Opera Orchestra and Chorus
EMI - 1969