Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826). Autograph manuscript of a chorus from his final opera, "Oberon", 1826

WEBER, CARL MARIA VON

Autograph manuscript of part of the opera "Oberon", a late revision of a passage for the opera's premiere, with an explanatory note by the composer

being Weber's adaptation for women's voices of the chorus "For Thee hath Beauty" in Act 3 (originally for mixed voices), inscribed by him over the music ("Veränderte Singstimmen zu dem Chore im 3^t Akt: statt Sopran, Alt, Tenor & Bass, nur Soprani und Alti"), notated in dark brown in on ten two-stave systems, and marked up in orange crayon

1 page, 4to (c.25.5 x 20.5cm), 24-stave paper, laid down, [London, late February or March 1826]

Carl Maria von Weber was the first important opera composer of German Romanticism, particularly in Der Freischütz (1821), Euryanthe (1823) and Oberon (1826), composed for London.

Oberon was staged in English at Covent Garden on 12 April 1826, less than two months before Weber's early death. This manuscript contains some of his final alterations for the premiere, which were not included in Schlesinger's first edition. Weber had made a draft of this chorus for four voices before travelling to England in the middle of February, which is the version he sent to the publisher. The scene is where Roshana tried to seduce Sir Huon of Bordeaux, summoning her Arab slaves to serenade him. He repulses her advances and is led away to be burnt at the stake.