Dresden, Carl-Maria von Weber-Museum

The life and work of Carl Maria von Weber, the eminent composer and creator of German opera, are inseparable from the city of Dresden. The museum exhibits furniture, artwork, and unique artifacts from the Weber era in original period rooms. In 1818, the "Kapellmeister for life" found refuge in the village of Hosterwitz, near Pillnitz. His retreat was romantically tucked into the hillside vineyards, not far upriver from Dresden. Here, in his "summer paradise" on a vintner's estate, Weber found the peace and quiet that he craved for himself and his family. While the Weber locations of yore have long since disappeared - his apartment in the city, the old court theater, and the Linckesche Bad Theater no longer exist - the Hosterwitz House still vividly commemorates the man and the artist, as well as the artistic circle of Weber's time. The origins of today's museum lie in a sense of civic spirit that motivated a private initiative. Later, the State Association for the Protection of Local Culture in Saxony maintained the estate up to the turmoil of the Second World War. In 1948, a permanent memorial was established in the renovated house. It was considerably expanded in 1957 and has been the Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Museum of the Stadtmuseum Dresden since 1995. The book portrays Weber's life and work, as well as his relationship to Dresden, which the museum's visitors can experience first hand.