Carl Maria von Weber

Carl Maria Friedrich Ernest von Weber (?November 19 1786 – June 5 1826) was a German composer, born in the town of Eutin, near Lübeck. He was a critical figure in the development of musical Romanticism, and influenced many composers of his and of subsequent generations, including Wagner, Liszt and Berlioz. He was best known in the 19th century for his operas, including Der Freischütz, an international sensation at the time, and Euryanthe, Oberon, King of the Fairies, Silvana, and Die drei Pintos. His numerous overtures, with their adventurous use of tone color, influenced the development of the symphonic poem.

Family

Weber came from a family that had long been devoted to art. His father, Baron Franz Anton von Weber, a military officer in the service of the palgrave Karl Theodor, was an excellent violinist, and his mother once sang on the stage. His cousins, Josepha, Aloysia, Constanze and Sophie, daughters of Franz Anton's brother Fridolin, attained a high reputation as vocalists. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, after having been rejected by Aloysia, married Constanze, and thus became Carl Maria's cousin by marriage. Fridolin played the violin nearly as well as his brother; and the whole family displayed exceptional talent for music.

Related Topics:
Franz Anton von Weber - Palgrave - Violinist - Aloysia - Constanze - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~