Prinz Friedrich von Homburg

In this intense early‑19‑century drama, the stage opens on a moonlit garden near Fehrbellin, where Prince Friedrich of Homburg lies half‑asleep beneath an ancient oak. Surrounded by the elect of the Brandenburg court— the Elector, his wife, the Princess Natalie, and a host of officers— the prince is discovered in a vulnerable, almost dream‑like state just before a decisive battle against the Swedes. The scene crackles with tension as authority figures debate whether to tend his apparent illness or thrust him back into the fray.

The play probes the clash between personal honor and rigid military obedience, as Friedrich’s yearning for glory pits him against the expectations of his superiors. Through vivid dialogue and stark imagery, the audience watches a young commander wrestle with duty, prophecy, and the weight of his own ambitions. Listeners are drawn into a rich tapestry of baroque language and the looming question: will a single night of reverie alter the course of war?