Weber

Description

Two hundred years ago, on May 26, 1821, one of the most prestigious concert halls in Berlin, the Konzerthaus, was inaugurated. Destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1984. In June 1821, another event animated the theater at Gendarmenmarkt: the premiere of Carl Maria von Weber's Freischütz, which would become his most popular opera and one of the most important of the 19th century. He, who would die five years later at just 40 years old, saw another of his works inaugurated at the Konzerthaus Berlin a few days later: his brilliant Konzertstück op. 79 for piano and orchestra. The Konzerthaus Berlin Orchestra is celebrating these events today with its principal conductor, Christoph Eschenbach. Weber holds a special place in the life of the great German conductor and pianist, as Der Freischütz is the first opera he saw at the age of 10. Joining him to perform this program, which includes overtures, arias, and the famous Konzertstück, are two resident soloists at the Konzerthaus Berlin, also Alpha artists, soprano Anna Prohaska and pianist Martin Helmchen.