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Werther is an opera
Opera

Opera is an Performing arts in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work which combines a text and a musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition....
 in four acts by Jules Massenet
Jules Massenet

Jules Massenet was a France composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era....
 to a French libretto
Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet....
 by Édouard Blau
Édouard Blau

?douard Blau was a France dramatist and opera libretto. He was a cousin of Alfred Blau, yet another librettist of the same period....
, Paul Milliet
Paul Milliet

Paul Milliet was a France dramatist and librettist of the Parisian Belle ?poque. His opera librettos include Jules Massenet's H?rodiade and Werther , Alfred Bruneau's K?rim , Spyridon Samaras's La biondinetta , Mademoiselle de Belle Isle and Rhea and Camille Erlanger's Forfaiture ....
 and Georges Hartmann
Georges Hartmann

Georges Hartmann was a France dramatist and opera librettist who wrote under the pen name Henri Gr?mont.Since 1870 he was also a music publisher, publishing compositions of Jules Massenet....
 based on the German novella
Novella

A novella is a writing, fictional, prose narrative longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. While there is disagreement as to what length defines a novella, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000....
 The Sorrows of Young Werther
The Sorrows of Young Werther

The Sorrows of Young Werther is an epistolary novel and loosely autobiographical novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, first published in 1774; a revised edition of the novel was published in 1787....
 by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

was a Germans writer and according to George Eliot, "Germany's greatest man of letters? and the last true polymath to walk the earth." Goethe's works span the fields of poetry, drama, literature, theology, philosophy, humanism and science....
.

Although Massenet wrote and completed his opera already in 1887, it did not receive any performance until it premiered at the Imperial Theatre Hofoper in Vienna
Vienna

Vienna is the Capital of Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million...
 on February 16, 1892, in a German version translated by Max Kalbeck. It had a great success. The French-language premiere followed in Geneva
Geneva

Geneva is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie . Situated where the Rh?ne River exits Lake Geneva , it is the capital of the Canton of Geneva....
 on December 27, 1892, and the first performance in France was at the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique

The th??tre national de l?Op?ra-Comique is an opera company and opera house in Paris. It is located in the place Boieldieu, in the IIe arrondissement of Paris, near the Paris Stock Exchange and not far from the Palais Garnier, home of the Op?ra National de Paris....
, Paris
Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
 on January 16, 1893.

The United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 premiere at Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880, is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. Peter Gelb is the company's general manager and James Levine is music director....
 took place in Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
 on March 29, 1894, and then in the company's main house in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 three weeks later.






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Encyclopedia


Werther is an opera
Opera

Opera is an Performing arts in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work which combines a text and a musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition....
 in four acts by Jules Massenet
Jules Massenet

Jules Massenet was a France composer best known for his operas. His compositions were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and he ranks as one of the greatest melodists of his era....
 to a French libretto
Libretto

A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, sacred or secular oratorio and cantata, Musical theater, and ballet....
 by Édouard Blau
Édouard Blau

?douard Blau was a France dramatist and opera libretto. He was a cousin of Alfred Blau, yet another librettist of the same period....
, Paul Milliet
Paul Milliet

Paul Milliet was a France dramatist and librettist of the Parisian Belle ?poque. His opera librettos include Jules Massenet's H?rodiade and Werther , Alfred Bruneau's K?rim , Spyridon Samaras's La biondinetta , Mademoiselle de Belle Isle and Rhea and Camille Erlanger's Forfaiture ....
 and Georges Hartmann
Georges Hartmann

Georges Hartmann was a France dramatist and opera librettist who wrote under the pen name Henri Gr?mont.Since 1870 he was also a music publisher, publishing compositions of Jules Massenet....
 based on the German novella
Novella

A novella is a writing, fictional, prose narrative longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. While there is disagreement as to what length defines a novella, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000....
 The Sorrows of Young Werther
The Sorrows of Young Werther

The Sorrows of Young Werther is an epistolary novel and loosely autobiographical novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, first published in 1774; a revised edition of the novel was published in 1787....
 by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

was a Germans writer and according to George Eliot, "Germany's greatest man of letters? and the last true polymath to walk the earth." Goethe's works span the fields of poetry, drama, literature, theology, philosophy, humanism and science....
.

Although Massenet wrote and completed his opera already in 1887, it did not receive any performance until it premiered at the Imperial Theatre Hofoper in Vienna
Vienna

Vienna is the Capital of Republic of Austria and also one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million...
 on February 16, 1892, in a German version translated by Max Kalbeck. It had a great success. The French-language premiere followed in Geneva
Geneva

Geneva is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie . Situated where the Rh?ne River exits Lake Geneva , it is the capital of the Canton of Geneva....
 on December 27, 1892, and the first performance in France was at the Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique

The th??tre national de l?Op?ra-Comique is an opera company and opera house in Paris. It is located in the place Boieldieu, in the IIe arrondissement of Paris, near the Paris Stock Exchange and not far from the Palais Garnier, home of the Op?ra National de Paris....
, Paris
Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
 on January 16, 1893.

The United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 premiere at Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880, is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. Peter Gelb is the company's general manager and James Levine is music director....
 took place in Chicago
Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, as well as the List of United States cities by population city in the United States with more than 2.8 million residents....
 on March 29, 1894, and then in the company's main house in New York City
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
 three weeks later. The UK premiere was at Covent Garden, London, on June 11, 1894.

Werther is regularly performed and has been recorded many times. By general critical conensus, the finest and most idiomatic performance on disc remains the January 1931 French Columbia recording of the complete opera, sung by Georges Thill
Georges Thill

Georges Thill was a French opera singer, often considered to be his country's greatest lyric-dramatic tenor. Born in Paris, his career lasted from 1924 to 1953, peaking during the 1930s....
, Ninon Vallin
Ninon Vallin

Ninon Vallin was a French soprano who achieved considerable popularity in opera, operetta and classical song recitals during a career which lasted for more than four decades....
 and Germaine Feraldy, and featuring the Paris Opera
Opéra National de Paris

Op?ra National de Paris is the leading opera company of France. It stages performances at the Op?ra Bastille and Op?ra Garnier in Paris.Other opera houses in Paris are the Th??tre du Ch?telet, Op?ra-Comique and Th??tre des Champs-?lys?es....
 orchestra and chorus under the baton of Élie Cohen. In addition, many of the greatest French and Italian singers of the past century or more have recorded individual arias from Massenet's masterwork.

Roles

RoleVoice typePremiere Cast, February 16, 1892
(Conductor: Wilhelm Jahn )
Charlotte, a young womanmezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano

A mezzo-soprano is a type of European classical music female voice type whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above ....
Marie Renard
Sophie, her sistersoprano
Soprano

A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four part chorale style harmony the soprano takes the highest part which usually encompasses the melody....
Ellen Foster-Brandt
Werther, a young poettenor
Tenor

The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work....
Ernest van Dyck
Albert, betrothed to Charlottebaritone
Baritone

Baritone is a type of European classical music male voice type that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice....
Fritz Neidl
Le Bailli, Charlotte's fatherbassMayerhofer
Schmidt, a friend of the BaillitenorSchlittenhelm
Johann, a friend of the BaillibaritoneFelix
Bruhlmann, town fool, young poettenor 
Katchen, Bruhlmanns fiancé of seven yearsmezzo-soprano 


Synopsis

Time: July to December 1780.
Place: The outskirts of Frankfurt
Frankfurt

is the largest city in the German States of Germany of Hesse and the List of cities in Germany with more than 100,000 inhabitants in Germany, with a 2008 population of 670,000....
.


Act 1

The widowed Bailiff teaches his younger children a Christmas carol, surprising his two neighbors, Schmidt and Johann, for it is July. Charlotte dresses for a ball. Since her intended, Albert, is away, she is escorted by Werther whom they find gloomy. Werther arrives and watches as Charlotte prepares her young siblings' supper, just as her mother had before she died. Werther greets Charlotte with a kiss, and they leave for the ball. Albert returns unexpectedly after a six month trip. He is unsure of Charlotte's intentions and disappointed not to find her here, but is reassured and consoled by Sophie. He leaves after promising to return in the morning. Werther and Charlotte return very late, and he is already enamoured with her. His declaration of love is interrupted by the announcement of Albert's return. Charlotte recalls how she promised her dying mother she would marry Albert. Werther despairs.

Act 2

It is three months later, and Charlotte and Albert are now married. They walk happily to church, pursued by the gloomy Werther. Sophie tries to cheer him up. When Charlotte exits the church, he speaks to her of their first meeting. Charlotte begs Werther not to try to see her again until Christmas day. Werther contemplates suicide, but leaves quickly when Sophie greets him. Charlotte comforts the tearful girl who does not understand his cruel behavior. Albert now realizes that Werther loves Charlotte.

Act 3

Charlotte is at home alone on Christmas Eve. She spends time rereading Werther's letters to herself, wondering how the young poet is and how she had the strength to send him away. Suddenly Werther appears, and while he reads her poetry, he realizes that she returns his love. They embrace for a moment, but she quickly bids him farewell. He leaves with thoughts of suicide. Albert returns home to find his distraught wife. Werther has sent a message to Albert requesting to borrow his pistols, explaining he is going on an extended trip. A servant is sent to deliver the pistols. Charlotte has a terrible premonition and hurries to find Werther.

Act 4

At Werther's apartment, Charlotte has arrived too late. Werther is dying. She consoles him by declaring her love. He asks for forgiveness. After he dies, Charlotte faints. Outside children are heard singing a Christmas carol.

Noted arias

  • Act I - Werther: "O Nature, pleine de grace"
  • Act II - Sophie: "Du gai soleil, plein de flame"
  • Act III - Charlotte: "Va, laisse couler mes larmes"
  • Act III - Charlotte: "Werther! Qui m'aurait dit /Ces lettres!" (Letter Scene)
  • Act III - Werther: "Pourquoi me réveiller?"


Selected recordings

DVD
DVD

DVD, also known as "Digital Versatile Disc" or "Digital Video Disc,"is a popular optical disc data storage device media format. Its main uses are video and data storage....
:
  • TDK: Vienna State Opera 2005: P Jordan (M Alvarez, E Garanca, A Erod)
  • Virgin Classics:Paris-Chatelet 2005: M Plasson
    Michel Plasson

    Michel Plasson is a France conducting.He is long associated with the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse as principal conductor from 1968 to 2003, and is now its honorary conductor....
     (T Hampson, S Graham
    Susan Graham

    File:Susangraham.jpgSusan Graham is an American mezzo-soprano.Raised in Midland, Texas, she is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Manhattan School of Music....
    , S Piau
    Sandrine Piau

    Sandrine Piau is an opera soprano. Trained as a harpist, she studied voice at the Coll?ge Lamartine and the Conservatoire National Sup?rieur de Musique du Paris....
    )
  • Image Entertainment 1998 Film: L Pesek (P Dvorsky, B Fassbänder
    Brigitte Fassbaender

    Brigitte Fassbaender , is mezzo-soprano opera singer, and in recent years, an artistic director. She has received the Bavarian State Opera's honorific title of 'Kammers?nger' or 'Court Singer.'...
    )


CD:
  • Naxos 2000 (remastering of French Columbia discs of 1931): Elie Cohen (G Thill, N Vallin, G Feraldy)
  • RCA Victor 1998: V Jurowski (R Vargas, V Kasarova
    Vesselina Kasarova

    Vesselina Kasarova is a Bulgarian mezzo-soprano opera singer....
    , D Kotoski, C Schaldenbrand)
  • Phillips 2004 (recorded 1980): C Davis (J Carreras
    José Carreras

    Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as Jos? Carreras, is a Spain Catalonia tenor. One of the most prominent opera singers of his generation, and particularly eminent in the operas of Verdi and Puccini, his career has encompassed over 60 roles on stage and in the recording studio....
    , F von Stade
    Frederica von Stade

    Frederica von Stade , is an American mezzo-soprano. Born in Somerville, New Jersey, she acquired the nickname Flicka in her childhood. Miss von Stade attended the Mannes College of Music in New York City....
    , T Allen, D Bell, I Buchanan)
  • EMI Int'l 1997 (recorded 1979): M Plasson (A Kraus
    Alfredo Kraus

    Alfredo Kraus Trujillo was a distinguished Spanish people tenor of Austrian descent, particularly known for the artistry he brought to opera's bel canto roles....
    , T Troyanos
    Tatiana Troyanos

    Tatiana Troyanos was an United States mezzo-soprano.Born in New York City, Troyanos went to Forest Hills High School in Forest Hills, New York....
    , Matteo Manuguerra
    Matteo Manuguerra

    Matteo Manuguerra was a Tunisian-born French baritone, one of the leading Verdi baritones of the 1970s.Manuguerra was born in Tunis, Tunisia, to Italian parents, who later moved to Argentina....
    , C Barbaux); and
  • EMI Classics 1999: A Pappano
    Antonio Pappano

    Antonio Pappano is a United Kingdom conducting and pianist of Italian parentage currently serving as music director at the Royal Opera House in London, and l'Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome....
     (R Alagna
    Roberto Alagna

    Roberto Alagna is a France operatic tenor of Sicilian descent. He was born in Clichy-sous-Bois, Seine-Saint-Denis, France....
    , A Gheorghiu
    Angela Gheorghiu

    Angela Gheorghiu in Adjud, Romania is one of the most renowned operatic singers of the 21st Century. Since her professional debut in 1990, she has sung as soprano leading roles at New York's Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden's Royal Opera House, the Vienna State Opera, Milan's La Scala, and many other major opera houses in Europe and the U...
    , T Hampson, P Petibon
    Patricia Petibon

    Patricia Petibon is a French coloratura soprano who has been acclaimed for her interpretations of French Baroque music.Born in Montargis, she initially studied plastic arts, then studied at the Conservatoire de Paris after earning a bachelor's degree in musicology, and won the Conservatory's first prize in 1995....
    ).


External links