Freischutz, Der, is an opera in three acts by the German composer Carl Maria von Weber (see Weber, Carl Maria von ). The libretto (text), in German, was written by Friedrich Kind. It was based on a tale taken from Gespensterbuch (Book of Ghost Stories) written in 1811 by Johann Apel and Friedrich Laun. Three operas based on the same tale had already been written by other composers before Weber completed his. It received its first performance in Berlin on June 18, 1821.
Der Freischutz means literally the free-shooter, but it really means “the marksman who shoots with magic bullets.” The opera is sometimes called The Magic Bullets in English. It is set in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) in the mid-1600’s. The huntsman Max (tenor) is eager to win a shooting competition to gain the job of next head ranger to the prince of Bohemia and also to win the hand in marriage of the beautiful Agathe (soprano), daughter of the current head ranger. Unfortunately, he loses a preliminary trial. Another huntsman, Caspar (bass), offers his help. Caspar has sold his soul to the evil spirit Samiel and must bring him another victim to win release from his bargain. Caspar tells Max that he can obtain some magic bullets for him, and Max readily agrees.
Meanwhile, Agathe is full of forebodings because of unexplained happenings. Max tells her he must go that night to the haunted Wolf’s Glen to retrieve a stag he shot earlier in the day. In the eerie glen, Caspar meets Samiel, and the demon agrees to let him make seven more bullets to be used in the contest the following day. Six of the shots will reach their desired targets, but Samiel reserves to himself the destination of the seventh, though Max does know about the seventh bullet. After Samiel has disappeared, Max arrives on the scene, and amid weird and frightening noises and moans, Caspar forges the seven bullets for him.
Agathe, more fearful than ever, prepares for her coming wedding and prays for protection. In the competition, Max astounds everyone with his brilliant marksmanship. After he has had his six shots, the prince orders him to shoot down a passing dove. Despite Agathe’s appeals to him not to shoot, Max fires. Agathe cries out and falls, but it is Caspar who is fatally wounded, claimed by Samiel to be his servant forever. Max confesses to his agreement with the devil-possessed Caspar. Through the intercession of an old hermit (bass) and the pleas of Agathe, he gains the promise that his sin will be forgiven.
