Carl Maria von Weber’s opera “Der Freischütz”, premiered in 1821, is widely regarded as a milestone in the history of opera. As the first mature German Romantic opera, it became extremely popular in the nineteenth century due to its gruesome subject matter, dark Romantic harmonies, and appealing, folksong-like melodies.

The present arrangement is largely based on the original horn parts. At the heart of this concise fantasy lies the Wild Hunt. The libretto describes ‘misty images of passing h...