Opera Guide and Synopsis: Oberon, by Carl Maria Von Weber

Oberon, or the Elf King's Oath is a "fairy opera" in three acts by the German composer Carl Maria von Weber. The libretto was written by the English playwright James Robinson Planché, based on the poem by Wieland (translated by Sotheby), which itself was based on the medieval French tale Huon de Bordeaux. Oberon premiered at Covent Garden, London, on April 12, 1826. Weber died in London on June 6, 1826; the stress of finishing the score of Oberon and traveling to London to see it premiered was too much for his poor health.

Planché's original libretto for Oberon contained a large number of speaking parts. As a result, there have been several attempts to revise the opera by replacing the dialogue with recitative and, on occasion, including several numbers from Weber's earlier opera Euryanthe. Some of the characters listed are spoken parts in the original opera, but voice parts when the recitative by Franz Wüllner is used.

Characters in Oberon

• Oberon, King of the Farieis (Tenor)
• Titania, his wife (Mute)
• Puck, a "tricksy spirit" (Contralto)
• Droll, a fairy (Spoken/Contralto)
• Huon de Bordeaux, a knight (Tenor)
• Sherasmin, his shield bearer (Baritone)
• Harun al Rashid, Caliph of Bagdad (Spoken/Baritone)
• Rezia, his daughter (Soprano)
• Fatima, her slave (Soprano)
• Prince Babekan (Spoken/Baritone)
• Emir Almansor (Spoken/Baritone)
• Roschana, his wife (Spoken/Contralto)
• Abdallah, a pirate (Spoken/Bass)
• Charlemagne (Spoken/Bass)

Synopsis of Oberon

Act I

Pucks reveals that Oberon and Titania have argued about whether men or women are more faithful, and Oberon has sent Puck to search for a couple which is faithful to each other in every way, and vowed not to meet again until such a couple can be found.

Oberon wakes, regretting his oath. Puck tells him that Sir Huon of Bordaeux has slain Charlemagne's son in an argument and, as punishment, was sent to Bagdad to kill the man who sits on the left of Harun al Rashid and claim his daughter, Rezia, for a wife. Oberon shows Huon a vision of Rezia and offers him aid: a magic horn which can be used to summon elves and a magic goblet which fills itself when it touches a person's lips.

Rezia is to marry Prince Babekan, but her slave Fatima tells her that Huon has arrived to rescue her.

Act II

Huon kills Prince Babekan, kisses Rezia, and escapes with her with the help of the magic horn. Sherasmin rescues Fatima and tries to win her affection. Oberon takes them to the harbor of Ascalon.

Puck orders the spirits to wreck Huon's ship in order to test the couple's faithfulness. While Huon seeks help, Rezia sees a ship. It turns out to be manned by pirates, who kidnap her and sell her to the Emir of Tunis. The spirits bring Huon to Tunis to rescue her.

Act III

Fatima and Sherasmin meet Huon at the garden of the Emir; they advise him to dress as a gardener and rescue Rezia. Almansor tries to gain Rezia's affection, but she rejects him. Roschana tries to tempt Huon, but he rejects her.

The lovers are about to be burned at the stake when Sherasmin uses the horn to summon Oberon. He and Titania are together again because Puck has found a couple, Rezia and Huon, who are faithful to each other through adversity. Oberon transports them to Charlemagne's hall, where Huon is pardoned.

Sources:

• Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goer's Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.
• Upton, George P. The Standard Operas: Their Plots and Their Music. Chicago: A.C. McClurg & Co., 1914.