Hand-colored printed broadside illustration of costumed characters from the opera "Oberon"

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

Public Domain. There are no known restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Hand-colored printed broadside illustration of costumed characters from the opera "Oberon," C0458, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
.01 Linear Feet 1 item
Abstract:
Hand-colored printed broadside illustration of costumed characters from the opera "Oberon," made circa 1826.
Language:
German .
Preferred citation:

Hand-colored printed broadside illustration of costumed characters from the opera "Oberon," C0458, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

Hand-colored printed broadside illustration of costumed characters from the opera "Oberon" by Carl Maria von Weber, created circa 1820s. From left to right are the characters Oberon, Titania, Sir Huon of Bordeaux (written is German as Hüon), Reiza (Rezia), Sherasmin (Scherasmin), Fatima, Caliph of Baghdad (Kalif von Bagdad), Roshana (Roschana), Almanzor (Almansor), and Turk Officer.

Biographical / historical:

"Oberon" is an 1826 opera by German composer Carl Maria von Weber, who is known as the creator of German Romantic Opera, established by his most popular work "Der Freischütz" in 1821. Born November 18, 1786, von Weber had a somewhat successful career in music, though his personal life suffered many illnesses and setbacks, which affected his compositions and reputation in the music world. Von Weber was commissioned by the Opera at Covent Garden in London to compose an opera focused on either the fictional characters Faust or Oberon. Von Weber chose Oberon, the fairy king of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and accepted the commission, mostly for financial reasons and against the advice of his doctor. "Oberon" was von Weber's last work, written and staged in London in April 1826. The production took its toll on von Weber's already fragile health, leading to his death at 39 years of age on June 4th of the same year.

"Oberon" was written in English, though it has been successfully translated to von Weber's native German and is performed in both languages. Focusing on characters made famous by Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" including the titular Oberon, the fairy queen Titania, and Puck, the opera focuses on another instance of the fairies meddling with mortal lovers and their lives, this time in an orientalist, medieval setting. The libretto, written by James Robinson Planché, is an adaptation of the German poem "Oberon" by Christoph Martin Wieland, which is itself an adaptation of "Huon de Bordeaux", a 13th French epic poem. The opera is most known for its overture, and is still performed today.

Acquisition information:
Purchased by Steve Gerber from J J Lubrano Music Antiquarians, October 2016.
Processing information:

Processing completed by Amanda Brent in September 2020. EAD markup completed by Amanda Brent in October 2020. This item was formerly part of the Performing Arts Manuscript Materials collection, C0215.

Arrangement:

This is a single item collection.

Physical location:
R 72, C 3, S 1
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard