Synopsis

Act 1

Killian has just bested Max in a shooting competition, and the townspeople rejoice (“Victoria, Victoria!”). The townsfolk proclaim Killian “King of marksmen,” and Killian sings about his shooting prowess (“Schau der Herr mich an als König”). Max cannot handle the happy townsfolk or Killian’s good-natured ribbing – he is too anxious about losing Agathe.

When Max tries to confront Killian, he is interrupted by Kuno, who reminds Max of the shooting contest the next morning (Trio and Chorus: “O diese Sonne”). Despite the townspeople’s insistence to trust in Heaven, and despite the joyful and encouraging chorus of the Huntsmen (“Das Wild in Fluren und Triften”), Max remains inconsolable (“Durch die Wälder, durch die Auen”).

Kaspar interrupts Max’s sad reverie, insists on ordering wine for them both, and slips the contents of a phial into Max’s wineglass. The potion – capable of wearing down Max’s moral defenses? – seems to prevent Max from leaving at the end of Kaspar’s crude drinking song (“Hier im ird’schen Jammerthal”). Kaspar hands Max his rifle and orders him to shoot an eagle high in the sky; the enchanted bullet in the rifle drops the eagle right before Max’s feet. He resolves to join Kaspar at midnight in the Wolf’s Glen to cast more magic bullets that will help him win Agathe’s hand in the morning. Kaspar is left alone to gloat at his own good fortune (“Schweig’, schweig’! damit dich Niemand warnt”).

Act 2

Ännchen re-hangs a picture that fell on Agathe’s head – which happened at the exact moment that Max shot and killed the eagle. Agathe’s anxieties are contrasted with Ännchen’s positive outlook for the shooting contest in the morning (Duet: “Schelm, halt’ fest!”). Ännchen continues to try and cheer up her cousin (Arietta: “Kommt ein schlanker Bursch gegangen”), but then discovers the source of her cousin’s anxiety: just that morning the holy Hermit warned Agathe of great danger and gave her a bouquet of roses. Left alone, Agathe waits for Max to return (Recitative: “Wie nahte mir der Schlummer;” Prayer: “Leise, leise, fromme Weise;” Aria: “All’ meine Pulse schlagen”).

Max arrives to tell Agathe that although he did not win the shooting competition, he was able to shoot an eagle. He then lies to her, telling her that he must venture out again to bring in a deer that he shot near the Wolf’s Glen. Agathe is not happy about him going so near to the evil Glen (Trio: “Wie? was? Entsetzen!”).

In the Wolf’s Glen at midnight, Max undergoes a terrible trial. With Samiel’s help, he and Kaspar cast seven bullets for the morning’s competition. (“Uhui! uhui!”)

-- Intermission --

Act 3

It is morning, and Agathe prepares for the day by singing a devotional tune in her chamber (“Und ob die Wolke sie verhülle”). When Ännchen enters, Agathe tells her of a horrific and ominous dream she had the night before. Disturbed to see her cousin in such a state, Ännchen attempts to distract Agathe with a cheerful song (“Einst träumte meiner sel’gen Base”). Her bridesmaids arrive to deliver her bridal wreath (“Wire winden dir den Junfernkranz”), but Agathe opens the box to discover that she has been sent a burial wreath instead. All but convinced of her terrible fate, Agathe instructs the bridesmaids to weave a wreath from the roses the Hermit gave her the day before.

Meanwhile, festivities abound at the marksmanship contest. Jolly foresters drink and set the mood with their songs (“Was gleicht wohl auf Erden) as Prince Ottokar awaits Max in his tent. With six of his shots having successfully hit their targets, Max must fire the final, seventh bullet. Prince Ottokar instructs Max to shoot a white dove in the distance. Instead, the bullet finds Agathe, who has made her way through the woods to the contest. All begin mourning her tragic fate (Finale: “Schaut, o schaut”), only to have her awake from a faint and to realize that her bridal wreath deflected the bullet—directly into Kaspar. Prince Ottokar orders Kaspar’s body to be thrown into the Wolf’s Glen, and demands an explanation of Max’s evil dealings. Despite his genuine repentance, Prince Ottokar banishes Max from the realm. The Hermit intervenes (“Wer legt auf ihn so strengen Bann?”). The holy wisdom of the Hermit convinces Prince Ottokar to lighten the punishment: not only does the Prince abolish the mandatory marksmanship contest, but after a year-long trial period, Max will freely be given Agathe’s hand in marriage.

– Clare McNamara for Opera Boston’s Der Freischütz Study Guide