Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826) was a German composer, conductor, and pianist who stands as the principal founder of German Romantic opera. His 1821 opera Der Freischütz - the first major German nationalist opera - decisively shifted European opera away from Italian dominance and directly shaped the path Richard Wagner would later take. Beyond the stage, Weber left a substantial body of orchestral and chamber music, including celebrated concertos for clarinet and a piano Konzertstück that remained in the repertoire for generations.
Dresden marked the 200th anniversary of Weber's death on 5 June 2026 with a memorial ceremony at the Alter Katholischer Friedhof, where the composer is buried.
Dresden launched its year-long 'Discover Romanticism 2026' festival, with Weber's music performed at the Semperoper, Kulturpalast, and outdoor venues in Saxon Switzerland.
The American Symphony Orchestra presented 'Weber & Berlioz: Der Freischütz Reimagined' on 16 April 2026 as part of its anniversary programming.
The Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Gesamtausgabe (WeGA), a complete scholarly edition of all Weber's works, letters and diaries, reached its target completion year of 2026 - the bicentenary of his death.
The Orchestra Now (TŌN) performed Weber's Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in a livestreamed concert from the Fisher Center at Bard on 6 April 2025.
Carl Maria von Weber's classic opera performed at Opernhaus Bonn.
Carl Maria von Weber's classic opera performed at the State Theatre Opera in Nuremberg.
