Carl Maria von Weber Opera Oberon
The Elf King's Oath, An English Three-Act Romantic Fairy Opera
Aug 14, 2008
Carl Maria von Weber (Novemeber 18,1786 – June 5, 1826) composed Oberon (The Elf King's Oath), a three-act English fairy tale opera. Libretto was written by James Robinson Plancé, based on a poem by Christoph Martin Wiel and "Huon de Bourdeaux" from the collection of French romances "La Bibliothèque Bleu."
Oberon was premiered in London, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, April 12, 1826. The setting is in the fairy kingdom of Baghdad, Tunis and France in the early 9th century medieval times.
Notable arias: "Ocean, thou mighty monster" (Reiza), "From boyhood trained" (Sir Huon)
Carl Maria von Weber's Oberon underwent revised versions, including one by Gustav Mahler.
Character Roles of Oberon
- Oberon, King of the Elves (tenor)
- Sir Huon, Duke of Bordeaux (tenor)
- Sherasmin, Huon's squire (baritone)
- Reiza, The Caliph's daughter (soprano)
- Fatima, Reiza's Attendant (mezzo)
- Puck, Oberon's servant (contralto)
Synopsis of Weber's Oberon
Overture
Act 1
Scene 1. A Garden in Oberon's Fairy Kingdom
Oberon argues with his wife over who is less faithful, men or women. Oberon decides to find a pair of faithful lovers and test them. His servant, Puck, finds a potential couple. He is Huon of Bordeaux, a knight exiled from Charlemagne's court. He is charged by the king to travel to Baghdad and marry the caliph's daughter, Reiza. Oberon sends Huon, a vision of Reiza and gives him a magic horn to help him find her. Huon's servant, Sherasmin, is given a magic goblet. Oberon transports Huon to Baghdad.
Scene 2. A Road from Oberon's Magic Wood to Baghdad
Huon travels to Baghdad under the protection of Oberon's magic horn.
Scene 3. A Splendid Hall in the Palace of Harun al Raschid in Baghdad
Reiza and her serving lady, Fatima, wait for Huon to rescue them from the caliph.
Act 2
(Slave ballet, a dance of the Spirits, and Mermaid dance)
Scene 1. A Splendid Hall in the Palace of Harun al Raschid in Baghdad
Huon arrives at the banquet hall. The caliph plans to marry off Reiza to Prince Babekan. Huon kills Babekan, abducts Reiza, and puts the caliph and his men to sleep with his magic horn. They flee the palace.
Scene 2. A Rock Strewn Landscape
Huon, Reiza, Fatima and Sherasmin set sail for France, but Puck raises a storm and shipwrecks them. They lose the magic horn and goblet. They are captured by pirates.
(The elves and mermaids dance.)
Act 3
(Slave dance)
Scene 1. The Palace Garden of Emir Almansor in Tunis
Reiza, Fatima and Sherasmin are sold as slaves to Almansor, the Emir of Tunis. Huon is hired as a gardener in the emir's gardens.
Scene 2. A Colonnade in the Emir's Palace
Reiza rejects the emir's advances. His wife tries to seduce Huon, but fails. The emir sees them together and condemns Huon to death.
Scene 3. The Market Place of Tunis
Neither the Emir nor his servant Abdallah realize the value of the magic horn that they have recovered from the sea. Abdallah gives it to Sherasmin. The emir is infuriated by Reiza's pleas for Huon and condemns her with him. Sherasmin uses the magic horn to save Huon and Reiza.
Scene 4. The Throne Room of the Emperor Charlemagne
Oberon appears to save the lovers and transports them to France where they are welcomed into Charlemagne's court.
Weber Other Opera:
Sources:
Opera by Alan Riding and L.D. Downer, Dorling Kindersley, London, 2006
Opera, András Batta, Editor-in-Chief. Cologne: Könemann, 1999
The Da Capo Opera Manual by Nicholas Ivor Martin, 1997
