First performed in Berlin in 1821, Der Freischütz is recognized as the wellspring of German Romantic opera. It was immensely influential in subject matter, atmosphere, orchestration, and other aspects on all later German operatic writing, and it is still quite popular. The composition of Der Freischütz occupied Weber for an unusually long time. He started in July 1819 and did not complete the work until May 1880. Based on the short story "Der Freischütz" in the Gespensterbuch (Book of Ghosts) b...