With Carl Maria von Weber's romantic opera "Der Freischütz", one of the most iconic works in German music history returns to Meiningen - a captivating play between superstition, love and the dark temptation of the devil that has lost none of its magic to this day.

"Hit the bull's eye", Carl Maria von Weber cheered after the premiere of his "Freischütz" in Berlin in 1821. The work soon began its triumphal march through Europe and has also been very popular in Meiningen with six new productions since 1945. Weber's material from an old ghost book struck a chord with the times and the story of Max, who devotes himself to the devil in order to win his bride, is still moving today. The forest, the epitome of the "German soul", becomes a battleground between good and evil.

A hunting community maintains its old rituals: in order to inherit forester Kuno and marry his daughter Agathe, the unerring young hunter Max has to pass a test shot. But pressure to perform and fear of failure mean that he suddenly misses the target. With the help of the shady Kaspar, he secretly shoots magical free bullets in the Wolf Gorge to secure his victory. But only six belong to the shooter - the devil controls the seventh.

The music contains folk song-like elements such as the sound of horns and cheerful choruses of hunters and bridesmaids. The world of the village community contrasts with the dark sounds of an abysmal world, with which Weber takes a step towards Romanticism and becomes a forerunner of Wagner. The opera is at once a national opera, a haunting and a drama of humanity.
Premiere October 24, 2025
Further performances: November 2 and 29, 2025, January 31, March 13, April 29, June 28, 2026