Editing Carl Maria von Weber (section)

===Early career 1804–1810===
[[File:Carl Maria von Weber 1814 painting by Thomas Lawrence.jpg|thumb|200px|Carl Maria von Weber (1814) Painting by [[Thomas Lawrence]]]]
Vogler recommended the 17-year-old Weber for the post of Director at the [[Breslau Opera]] in 1804; Weber was offered and accepted the post. He sought to reform the Opera by pensioning off older singers, expanding the orchestra, and tackling a more challenging repertoire. His ambitious and dedicated work as director of the orchestra was acknowledged, though his tempi were frequently criticized as too fast. As the daily routine did not leave sufficient time for his own creative work, Weber did not seek to extend his two-year appointment.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

After an interlude at the court of [[Duke Eugen of Württemberg (1788–1857)|Duke Eugen of Württemberg]], who resided in [[Province of Lower Silesia|Silesia]], Weber served from 1807 to 1810 in [[Stuttgart]] as private secretary to [[Duke Louis of Württemberg|Duke Ludwig]], brother of [[Frederick I of Württemberg|King Frederick I of Württemberg]]. Weber's time in [[Württemberg]] was plagued with troubles. He fell deeply into debt and became entangled in the financial manipulations of his employer, e.g. the sale of confirmations of ducal service which exempted the purchaser from military service. Weber was arrested and charged with [[embezzlement]] and bribery. As he could disprove the allegations, the case was brought under civil law to avoid compromising the ''de facto'' manipulator, the brother of the king. Weber agreed to pay the costs (the last payment was made in 1816) and was banished from Württemberg together with his father.{{sfn|Carl-Maria-von-Weber-Gesamtausgabe – Biographie}}

As a sobering side effect, Weber started to keep a diary to list his expenses and correspondence, and make occasional comments on special events.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}

Weber remained prolific as a composer during this period, writing a quantity of [[religious music]], mainly for the Catholic [[mass (liturgy)|mass]]. This, however, earned him the hostility of conservatives working for the re-establishment of traditional chant in [[liturgy]]. In his biography of Weber, [[John Warrack|Warrack]] notes that Weber was an accomplished guitarist.{{sfn|von Weber|1865|pages=1:52, 62, 94, 137, 143, 152, 177, 211, 244, 271, 278}}{{sfn|Warrack|1976|pp=67, 94, 107, 141}} It was in this year that his first song with guitar accompaniment, "Liebeszauber", was printed. Some of his most original and innovative songs were written during the following years, including "Er an Sie" (1808) and "Was zieht zu deinem Zauberkreise" (1809).