from Act I of the German opera
Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber
Libretto: Friedrich Kind
Voice Part: tenor Fach: spinto
Setting: An open space in front of a tavern in the woods, Bohemia, middle of the 17th century
Synopsis: Max wants badly to win the shooting contest held by Prince Ottokar. If he does, he will become the new head forester and will get to marry his beloved Agathe, the old head forester's daughter. However, he has just lost another contest to a peasant and believes that he will not win. He sings of his anguish and of the loss of his happy life.