The first performance of Carl Maria von Weber’s opera The Marksman was a major artistic event. The libretto, along with drawings of costume designs in colour, was purchased in Berlin. The flagship opus of German Romanticism was produced with much care: the rehearsals took three months, which is considered a lot in the theatrical practice of the day. Kurier Warszawski reported as follows:
Expensive attire, a large orchestra, carefully selected choirs, lavish decorations left little to be desired. In one performance, during the casting of the magic bullets, a sparkle from the sumptuous fireworks snuck into the upper-level machinery and by the end of the show the fire had quite caught on; it was prevented from spreading by the roof being incomplete.
