Carl Maria von Weber

Nationality: German

Born: Eutin, November 18^th/19^th 1876

Died: London, 5^th June 1826

Type of music: German romantic opera, Clarinet music

Main works: Der Freischutz (1821), Oberon (1826), 2 Clarinet concertos, Clarinet Quintet (1814), Aufforderung zum Tanz (1819)

Weber's musical education began at a young age when he took lessons from Joseph Haydn's brother, Michael, in Salzburg. He then went on to study in Vienna and by the time he was 14 years old, he had written his first opera.

He spent over 10 years working in courts and theatres in Germany and during this time wrote a lot of his instrumental pieces, he was then appointed the director of the Prague opera in 1813.

In 1816 Weber was appointed as the Kapellmeister at Dresden court. His focus in the coming years would be to establish a style of German opera that would see him become an early figurehead in the nationalist movement. 1821 saw the premiere of this most notable opera, 'Der Freischutz', which was based on a story from German folklore.

The operas that proceeded 'Der Freischutz' did not achieve quite the same success. When 'Euryanthe' opened in Vienna in 1823 it only saw 20 performances. His opera 'Oberon' was commissioned by the Royal Opera house in London, and even though his health was failing, he managed to conduct the performance in April of 1826. Weber died in London in the June of the same year.

Weber's legacy proved important for the early work of Richard Wagner which was composed in the same German romantic style.

“Weber, who seems to whisper in my earr like a familiar spirit, inhabiting a happy sphere where he awaits to console me” - Berlioz

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr

Vincenzo Bellini

Nationality: Italian

Born: Catania, November 3^rd 1801

Died: Puteaux, September 23^rd 1835

Type of music: Opera

Main works: La Sonnambula (1830), Norma (1831)

Bellini, like Donizetti, was an Italian operatic composer in the early romantic period. His career also saw him journey west to London and then Paris, where he died shortly before his 34^th birthday.

Bellini was taught music at an early age from his father and grandfather, and then at the age of 18 he attended the Royal Conservatory in Naples. It was here his compositional career began and in 1825 the school produced and performed his first opera 'Adelson e Salvini'.

Further commissions soon came from Naples and Milan and in 1827 his opera 'Il pirata' was produced at the famous La Scala theatre and was met with great success. The libretto for this opera was written by Felice Romani, who collaborated with Bellini on several more operas, the last of which was 'Beatrice di Tenda' in 1833.

Soon after this, Bellini arrived in Paris where his last operatic commission was produced. 'I puritani' was produced at the Italian theatre in Paris in 1835, which also produced Donizetti's 'Don Pasquale'.

The Bel Canto style of opera that Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti composed in during this period did not survive through the rise of nationalism and the late romantic period, but found it's revival in the 20^th Century.

“Long, long melodies, such as no one has ever written before”. - Giuseppe Verdi

Spotify link for the Classical Cafe playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr