Werther

Synopsis

French romantic opera. Set in Germany, it tells the simple story of Werther and his unfulfilled love for Charlotte, whose promise to marry someone else must be kept. Familiar themes of self-sacrifice are here, along with forgiveness, humility and the inevitable, yet still deeply tragic, conclusion. From the opening of the opera when we first meet the six children of Charlotte's family as they sing carols, to the unbearably sad ending.

Our Review:

12 November 2009

Aside from Manon, Werther is Jules Massenet’s most celebrated operatic work and is treated respectfully by most opera houses.  However, it has never enjoyed the same level of popularity as the Italian works of Puccini and Verdi or the German operas of Wagner.  Musically it’s hard to understand why as Massenet’s music is phenomenally lyrical and glorious to the ear ranging from beautiful poignancy to devastatingly dramatic all enhanced by skilful orchestrations that are simply stunning.

The problem, however, lies with its insubstantial story line.Very little actually happens during the course of the four acts with the result that there is an awful lot of padding required.  Massenet and his librettists rise to the challenge rather well, but no amount of orchestral interludes, children’s choirs and drawn out death scenes can disguise the fact that this opera ...

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