Oberon (Weber)

Oberon, or The Elf-King's Oath
Opera by Carl Maria von Weber
Lucia Elizabeth Vestris as Fatima in an 1826 etching
Librettist	James Robinson Planché
Language	English
Based on	Oberon by Christoph Martin Wieland
Premiere	12 April 1826 (1826-04-12) Covent Garden, London

Oberon, or The Elf-King's Oath (J. 306) is a 3-act romantic opera with spoken dialogue composed in 1825–26 by Carl Maria von Weber. The only English opera ever set by Weber, the libretto by James Robinson Planché was based on the German poem Oberon by Christoph Martin Wieland, which itself was based on the epic romance Huon de Bordeaux, a French medieval tale.^[1] It was premiered in London on 12 April 1826.

Against his doctor's advice, Weber undertook the project commissioned by the actor-impresario Charles Kemble for financial reasons.^[1] Having been offered the choice of Faust or Oberon as subject matter, he travelled to London to complete the music, learning English to be better able to follow the libretto, before the premiere of the opera. However, the pressure of rehearsals, social engagements and composing extra numbers destroyed his health, and Weber died in London on 5 June 1826.^[1]

The autograph manuscript of the opera was donated by Emperor Alexander II to the National Library of Russia, where it is currently preserved.