A fresh production of grand opera: "Der Freischütz" as a mirror of the present at the Kleist Forum

The Staatstheater Cottbus is presenting a major opera production at the Kleist Forum in Frankfurt on January 31 and February 1. "Der Freischütz" by Carl Maria von Weber is the epitome of German romantic opera. The visually stunning round dance of hunting folklore, ghostly haunting and jealousy drama struck a chord with the times at its premiere in 1821. Numbers such as the Hunter's Chorus and the Song of the Maiden's Wreath became hits and continue to captivate audiences to this day.

The plot is quickly told: Max and Agathe want to get married. But first, the young man has to hit the bull's eye at the test shooting. That's what tradition demands. Afraid of failing, he gets involved with dark forces and pours magical "free bullets". What Max doesn't know is that six will hit whatever he wants, but with the seventh bullet, the devil gets himself a victim.

Director Tomo Sugao brings the story from Wolf Gulch after the Thirty Years' War to Wall Street in the 21st century. He tells the story of young people who are under great personal and professional pressure. Driven by the pressure to succeed, performance and self-optimization slogans, they are susceptible to supposedly simple solutions. The stage set is an open-plan office into which demonic figures and surreal projections gradually enter. Goosebumps are therefore guaranteed.