Melbourne Opera Company have just started rehearsals in Melbourne’s Athenaeum theatre and excitement is mounting. This is the first production of Weber’s Romantic masterpiece Der Fresichütz here since 1969. This opera has terrific music, a familiar overture, and the famous Huntsmen’s Chorus as well as many other glorious numbers making this a turning point in the development of German opera, a major influence on Wagner and a perennial favorite in German opera houses. So why has this neglected masterpiece sat on the shelf in Australia for so long?

In brief, Der Freischütz tells the story of Max, a marksman who has lost the ability to shoot straight on the eve of his wedding to the Master Huntsmen’s daughter Agathe. If he fails to win the shooting competition held on his wedding day he will not be allowed to marry her. Another marksman, Caspar has previously made a pact with Zamiel, the Demon Huntsman, and traded his soul for seven magic bullets.  Casper exchanges his soul for Max’s with Zamiel and in a demonic ritual casts seven new magic bullets. This means that Max is now able to shoot, win and be wed with the help of these magical bullets, however one...