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Opera

Der Freischütz

Opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber (1786–1826). Libretto Johan Friedrich Kind.

Love hunting and demonic evil in von Weber’s opera.

  • Duration

    Ca 2 h, 50 min, incl. 1 interval

  • Dates

    08 Nov — 04 Dec 2025

  • Stage

    Main Stage

  • Genre

    Opera

  • Language

    German. Texted in Swedish and English.

  • Price

    150–750 kr

  • Accessibility

A woman is terrified out of her wits. A man sells his soul. Who controls the marksman’s final bullet?

Der Freischütz contains sequences with strobe lighting at the end of Act 1. For further information, please contact the box office.

“Sterby’s voice has power, rapture and subtlety.” Opera Now

“an outstanding musical performance under the direction of Francesco Angelico, who elicits an idiomatically beautiful sound from the orchestra ...The choir is also exceptional” Oper! Magazin

“Kristian Lindroos gave a stand-out performance as Kaspar” Seen & Heard International
“Matilda Sterby was breathtaking as Agathe” Seen & Heard International
“Musical magic of the ensemble and orchestra” Seen & Heard International

The hunt is over. A murder has been committed. The snow is stained red. Is one of the hunters the killer, or is there no rational explanation? From a camera crew’s perspective, we follow events that lead to a dramatic conclusion.

Der Freischütz is a ghost story set in a stark, realistic environment inspired by Scandinavian crime series. The action unfolds in an isolated place where the northern lights provide the only illumination. Darkness seeps from the hearts of the inhabitants and reaches out beyond understanding.

To claim the hand of his beloved Agathe, the hunter Max must win a shooting competition. His friend Kaspar makes him an offer he can’t refuse: seven magic bullets that will never miss. But the bullets are guided by evil, and are destined for a target chosen by the Devil himself. In Wolf’s Glen, where bullets are cast, all taboos rise to the surface, summoned by dark magic. But Agathe’s friend, Ännchen, does all she can to help her.

The German Romantic opera Der Freischütz premiered in 1821, and its sensual music is by turns playful and menacing. Francesco Angelico will conduct Der Freischütz, and Philipp Rosendahl will direct the first Gothenburg production of this opera in nearly a century.

Trailer

OTTOKAR Orhan Yildiz
KUNO Mats Almgren
AGATHE Matilda Sterby, Susanne Serfling (from the wings 8/11, 26/11)
ÄNNCHEN Kerstin Avemo
KASPAR Kristian Lindroos
MAX Adam Frandsen
THE UNKNOWN Erik Rosenius
KILIAN Stefan Berkieta, Daniel Hayes (26, 29/11)

FOUR BRIDESMAIDS
Eden Benguigui, Cornelia Granquist, Linnéa Hesselstrand, Marika Larsson (Interns, HSM)

FILMTEAM
Dan Offerlind, Christoffer Löwenadler, Jeppe Rasmussen

Göteborg Opera Chorus
Göteborg Opera Orchestra

Photos from the performance

Killian med jaktgevär tar ett högt, glatt språng från en jaktstugas farstu. Fler bybor kommer fram ur stugan.

In photo:  Stefan Berkieta, GöteborgsOperans Kör|Photographer:  Håkan Larsson

Curious about this production?

Panel discussion about Der Freischütz: “Should a mistake always be forgiven?

Participants: Philipp Rosendahl (director), Daniel Roskamp (set design), Matilda Sterby (Agathe), Erik Rosenius (The Unknown). GöteborgsOpera’s dramaturge Göran Gademan hosts the panel, which is held mostly in English.

Recorded 23 October 2025 on Göteborg Opera’s Small Stage.

Curious about this production?

Listen to a discussion
Rehearsals
Programmes