Carl Maria von Weber

Raised in a very theatrical and musical family in the late 18th century, Carl Maria von Weber would go on to lead the movement to find a German national identity in opera. His early life was spent as part of his parent's travelling theatrical group, affording him a varied education under teachers from each town that was visitied, and introducing him to a huge variety of communities and people.

His life continued to be a turbulent one, and Weber moved through a variety of positions until he finally settled in Prague in 1813. There, Weber found a way to voice his experiences in music, and gain significant success. From there, he moved to the German opera at Dresden, where he challenged the hold of Italian opera, by developing a truly German identity in his works. His most successful workDer Freischütz, is considered the first truly German opera.

Despite his struggles, Weber's work greatly influenced the work of Richard Wagner, and many other influential composers of the 19th century.