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Carl Maria von Weber

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Composer

The Resume

    (November 18, 1786-June 5, 1826)
    Born in Eutin, Germany
    Pianist and composer
    Director of the Prague Opera (1813-16) and Dresden Opera (1817-26)
    Composed the operas ‘Silvana’ (1810), ‘Abu Hassan’ (1811), ‘Der Freischutz’ (1821), ‘Euryanthe’ (1823) and ‘Oberon, or the Elf King’s Oath’ (1826)
    Wrote two symphonies, four piano sonatas, two piano concertos, two clarinet concertos and ‘An Invitation to the Dance’

Why he might be annoying:

    He was not actually from an aristocratic family – the ‘von’ was an affectation adopted by his father.
    Most of his operas (with ‘Der Freischutz’ as the exception) had subpar liberetti.
    While he was working for Duke Ludwig, the brother of the King of Wurttemberg, his father embezzled a large sum of money. Carl tried to cover for his father by borrowing money from a merchant, to whom he hinted that he could use his influence on the royal family to keep the merchant’s son from being drafted. When the kid was drafted anyway, the merchant complained to the King, resulting in the exposure of the embezzlement. He and his father were imprisoned and then banished from the kingdom (1810).

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was born with a hip deformity and was unable to walk until he was four – by which time he was already a successful singer and pianist.
    He permanently damaged his voice when he drank nitric acid that had been stored in a wine bottle.
    He was a pioneer of the German romantic opera.
    He was the first Western composer to incorporate Chinese melodies into his work.
    When his remains were brought from London to Dresden, the eulogy at his reburial was delivered by Richard Wagner.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 82 Votes: 52.44% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 86 Votes: 59.30% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying