The Black Rider – The Casting of the Magic Bullets

In the organizer's words:

Music theater by Robert Wilson, Tom Waits and William S. Burroughs

A diabolical pact, a forbidden love and a journey into madness - "The Black Rider" is a rousing piece of musical theater that transforms Carl Maria von Weber's opera "Der Freischütz" into an eerie nightmare world.

Young Wilhelm wants to win the love of his life, but to do so he must become a marksman. The solution seems within his grasp when the mysterious Stelzfuß promises him magic bullets that never miss their target. But with each bullet, Wilhelm falls deeper into a vortex of addiction, despair and
madness ...

With the unique music of Tom Waits and the bizarrely humorous lyrics of William S. Burroughs, the contents of "Der Freischütz" are transformed into a gruesomely beautiful tale of love, temptation and the price of one's own soul.

A diabolical pact, a forbidden love and a journey into madness - "The Black Rider" is a thrilling piece of musical theater that transforms Carl Maria von Weber's opera "Der Freischütz" into an eerie nightmare world.

Young Wilhelm wants to win the love of his life, but to do so he must become a marksman. The solution seems within his grasp when the mysterious Stelzfuß promises him magic bullets that never miss their target. But with each bullet, Wilhelm falls deeper into a vortex of addiction, despair and
madness ...

With the unique music of Tom Waits and the bizarrely humorous lyrics of William S. Burroughs, the contents of "Der Freischütz" are transformed into a gruesomely beautiful tale of love, temptation and the price of one's own soul.

Director: Georg Münzel
Stage and costumes: Sabine Kohlstedt and Yvonne Marcour
Musical direction: Emil Schuler
Musicians: Christoph Kähler
Choreography: Ute Geske
Dramaturgy: Gregor Schuster

With Niklas Bähnk, Farina Adina Kaiser, Anna Luisa Neumann, Noelle Ruoss, Emil Schuler, Jascha Schütz, Regina Stötzel, Jacques Ullrich and Dominik Velz

Premiere on September 07, 2025
Performances until January 11, 2026

Price information:

Discounted tickets are available from €37*. For more detailed price information, please contact the box office at tickets@altonaer-theater.de or call 040 3990 5870. *Only valid on certain days of the week. Tickets cost between €52 and €67 on New Year's Eve. Reduced tickets are not available for New Year's Eve performances.