“So, you are the Weber!  I suppose you want me to buy your operas.  One fills an evening, the other doesn’t.  Very well, I will give fifteen hundred florins for the two.  Is it a bargain?” Weber accepted, and promised to return the next spring to conduct the operas.  He kept his promise, and the result was much better than he ever dreamed.  For beyond the performance of his operas, he was offered the post of music director of the Prague theater, which post was just then vacant.  The salary was two thousand florins, with a benefit concert at a guaranteed sum of one thousand more, and three months leave of absence every year.  This assured sum gave young Weber the chance of paying his debts and starting afresh, which, he writes “was a delight to him.”

The composer now threw himself heart and soul into improving the orchestra placed in his charge.  Before long he had drilled it to a high state of excellence.  Many new operas were put on the stage in quick succession.  Thus Weber worked on with great industry for three years.  The success he achieved created enemies, and perhaps because of intrigues, envy and ill feeling which had arisen, he resigned his post in 1816.  The three years in Prague had been fruitful in new compositions.  Several fine piano sonatas, a set of “National Songs,” and the Cantata, “Kampf und Sieg,” (Struggle and Victory).  This last work soon became known all over Germany and made the gifted young composer very popular.  During this period Weber became engaged to Caroline Brandt, a charming singer, who created the title role in his opera of “Sylvana.”

Weber had many kind, influential friends in Prague, who admired his zeal and efficiency as music director.  One of them, Count Vitzhum, did all he could to secure Weber for Dresden.  On Christmas morning, 1816, he received the appointment.  He wrote to Caroline:  “Long did I look on Count Vitzhum’s letter without daring to open it.  Did it contain joy or sorrow?  At length I took courage and broke the seal.  It was joy!  I am Capellmeister to his Majesty the King of Saxony.  I must now rig myself out in true Court style.  Perhaps I ought to wear a pigtail to please the Dresdeners.  What do you say?  I ought at least to have an extra kiss from you for this good news.”

He went to Dresden, and at first looked over the situation.  On nearer view the prospect was not as bright as it had appeared at first.  There was a rival faction, strongly opposed to his plans for the promotion of German opera.  There had never been anything tolerated at Dresden but Italian opera, and there were many talented Italian singers to interpret them.  Weber was encouraged by a new national spirit, which he felt would favor German opera, and was determined to conquer at all costs.  He finally succeeded, for, as he wrote to a friend, “The Italians have moved heaven, earth and hell also, to swallow up the whole German opera and its promoter.  But they have found in me a precious tough morsel; I am not easily swallowed.”  It was the same kind of fight that Handel waged in England, and that Gluck fought against the Piccinists.