Carl Maria von Weber

About

Remembered for such popular operas as Oberon, Euryanthe, and Der Freischütz, this Romantic era composer also wrote incidental music, choral works, and piano and clarinet concertos. Also a music critic, he wrote numerous articles on German folk music.

Before Fame

In his early years, he studied under classical composer Michael Haydn. He published his first operatic and piano works when he was just twelve years old.

Trivia

At different points in his career, he served as the director of the Prague and Dresden operas.

Family Life

The son of musician Franz Anton von Weber and vocalist Genovefa Brenner, he grew up with two siblings, one of whom (Fridolin von Weber) had a singer daughter, Constanze, who married the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Associated With

He influenced the work of fellow composer Felix Mendelssohn.