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{{short description|1892 opera by Jules Massenet}}
{{Other uses}}
{{About|the opera by Massenet}}
⚫
{{Massenet operas}}<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:167382Werther.jpg|thumb|right|Werther poster for the Paris Opéra-Comique]] -->'''''Werther''''' is an [[opera]] (''drame lyrique'') in four acts by [[Jules Massenet]] to a French [[libretto]] by [[Édouard Blau]], [[Paul Milliet]] and [[Georges Hartmann]] (who used the pseudonym Henri Grémont). It is loosely based on the German [[epistolary novel]] ''[[The Sorrows of Young Werther]]'' by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]], which was based both on fact and on Goethe's own early life. Earlier examples of operas using the story were made by [[Rodolphe Kreutzer|Kreutzer]] (1792) and [[Vincenzo Pucitta|Pucitta]] (1802).<ref name="Groveopera">[[Rodney Milnes|Milnes R]]. Werther. In: ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera''. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.</ref>
{{Infobox opera
| name = Werther
| composer = [[Jules Massenet]]
| image = File:Eugène_Grasset_-_Jules_Massenet_-_Werther.jpg
| image_upright = 1.3
⚫
| caption = [[Eugène Grasset|Grasset]] poster for 1893 French premiere of ''Werther''
| type = ''drame lyrique''
| librettist = {{plainlist|
* [[Édouard Blau]]
* [[Paul Milliet]]
* [[Georges Hartmann]]
}}
| language = French
| based_on = {{based on|''[[The Sorrows of Young Werther|Die Leiden des jungen Werther]]''|[[Johann Wolfgang Goethe]]}}
| premiere_date = {{Start date|1892|02|16|df=y}}
| premiere_location = [[Vienna State Opera|Hofoper]], Vienna (in German)
}}<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:167382Werther.jpg|thumb|right|Werther poster for the Paris Opéra-Comique]] -->
⚫
'''''Werther''''' is an [[opera]] (''drame lyrique'') in four acts by [[Jules Massenet]] to a French [[libretto]] by [[Édouard Blau]], [[Paul Milliet]] and [[Georges Hartmann]] (who used the pseudonym Henri Grémont). It is loosely based on Goethe's [[epistolary novel]] ''[[The Sorrows of Young Werther]]'', which was based both on fact and on Goethe's own early life. Earlier examples of operas using the story were made by [[Rodolphe Kreutzer|Kreutzer]] (1792) and [[Vincenzo Pucitta|Pucitta]] (1802).<ref name="Groveopera">[[Rodney Milnes|Milnes R]]. Werther. In: ''The New Grove Dictionary of Opera''. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.</ref>


==Performance history==
==Performance history==
⚫
Massenet started composing ''Werther'' in 1885, completing it in 1887. He submitted it to [[Léon Carvalho]], the director of the Paris [[Opéra-Comique]], that year, but Carvalho declined to accept it on the grounds that the scenario was too serious.<ref name="Groveopera"/> With the disruption of the fire at the Opéra-Comique and Massenet's work on other operatic projects (especially ''[[Esclarmonde]]''), it was put to one side, until the Vienna Opera, pleased with the success of ''[[Manon]]'', asked the composer for a new work. ''Werther'' received its premiere on 16 February 1892 (in a German version translated by Max Kalbeck) at the Imperial Theatre [[Vienna State Opera|Hofoper]] in [[Vienna]].<ref name="Groveopera"/>
⚫
[[File:Grasset-Werther.jpg|thumb|left|[[Eugène Grasset|Grasset]] poster for 1893 French premiere of ''Werther'']]
⚫
Massenet started composing Werther in 1885, completing it in 1887. He submitted it to [[Léon Carvalho|Leon Carvalho]], the director of the Paris [[Opéra-Comique]], that year, but Carvalho declined to accept it on the grounds that the scenario was too serious.<ref name="Groveopera"/> With the disruption of the fire at the Opéra-Comique and Massenet's work on other operatic projects (especially ''[[Esclarmonde]]''), it was put to one side, until the Vienna Opera, pleased with the success of ''[[Manon]]'', asked the composer for a new work. ''Werther'' received its premiere on 16 February 1892 (in a German version translated by Max Kalbeck) at the Imperial Theatre [[Vienna State Opera|Hofoper]] in [[Vienna]].<ref name="Groveopera"/>


The French-language premiere followed in [[Geneva]] on 27 December 1892.<ref name=grove>Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed., 1954</ref> The first performance in France was given by the Opéra-Comique at the [[Théâtre de la Ville|Théâtre Lyrique]] on the Place du Châtelet in Paris on 16 January 1893, with [[Marie Delna]] as Charlotte and Guillaume Ibos in the title role, conducted by [[Jules Danbé]], but was not immediately successful.<ref name="Groveopera"/>
The French-language premiere followed in [[Geneva]] on 27 December 1892.<ref name=grove>''[[Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians]]'', 5th ed., 1954</ref> The first performance in France was given by the Opéra-Comique at the [[Théâtre de la Ville|Théâtre Lyrique]] on the Place du Châtelet in Paris on 16 January 1893, with [[Marie Delna]] as Charlotte and [[Guillaume Ibos]] in the title role, conducted by [[Jules Danbé]], but was not immediately successful.<ref name="Groveopera"/>


''Werther'' entered the repertoire at the Opéra-Comique in 1903 in a production supervised by [[Albert Carré]],<ref name="Groveopera"/> and over the next half-century the opera was performed over 1,100 times there, Léon Beyle becoming a distinguished interpreter of Werther.<ref>Wolff, Stéphane. ''Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique (1900–1950).'' André Bonne, Paris, 1953.</ref>
''Werther'' entered the repertoire at the Opéra-Comique in 1903 in a production supervised by [[Albert Carré]],<ref name="Groveopera"/> and over the next half-century the opera was performed over 1,100 times there, Léon Beyle becoming a distinguished interpreter of Werther.<ref>Wolff, Stéphane. ''Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique (1900–1950).'' André Bonne, Paris, 1953.</ref>
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''Werther'' is still regularly performed around the world and has been recorded many times. Although the role of Werther was written for a [[tenor]], Massenet adjusted it for a [[baritone]], when [[Mattia Battistini]] sang it in [[Saint Petersburg]] in 1902. It is very occasionally performed in this version, in which the changes affect only the vocal line for the title character. There are no other changes to the words, to the lines for other characters, or to the orchestration.
''Werther'' is still regularly performed around the world and has been recorded many times. Although the role of Werther was written for a [[tenor]], Massenet adjusted it for a [[baritone]], when [[Mattia Battistini]] sang it in [[Saint Petersburg]] in 1902. It is very occasionally performed in this version, in which the changes affect only the vocal line for the title character. There are no other changes to the words, to the lines for other characters, or to the orchestration.
{{-}}


== Roles ==
== Roles ==
[[File:Ernest Van Dyck as Werther - NGO4p1142.jpg|thumb|Ernest Van Dyck as Werther]]
[[File:Ernest Van Dyck as Werther - NGO4p1142.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ernest van Dyck]] in the title role, its first singer, ca. 1892]]
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Role
!Role
!Voice type
![[Voice type]]
!Premiere Cast, 16&nbsp;February&nbsp;1892<ref>[http://www.artlyriquefr.fr/oeuvres/Werther.html Werther page at the French Art Lyrique webpage] accessed 5 September 2014.</ref><br>(Conductor: [[Wilhelm Jahn]])
!Premiere cast, 16&nbsp;February&nbsp;1892<ref>[http://www.artlyriquefr.fr/oeuvres/Werther.html Werther page at the French Art Lyrique webpage] accessed 5 September 2014.</ref><br>(Conductor: [[Wilhelm Jahn]])
|-
|-
|Charlotte, ''aged 20''
|Charlotte, ''aged 20''
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|Sophie, ''her sister, aged 15''
|Sophie, ''her sister, aged 15''
|[[soprano]]
|[[soprano]]
|[[Ellen Forster-Brandt]]
|[[Ellen Brandt-Forster]]
|-
|-
|Werther, ''a young poet, aged 23''
|Werther, ''a young poet, aged 23''
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|-
|-
|Le Bailli, ''Charlotte's father; aged 50''
|Le Bailli, ''Charlotte's father; aged 50''
|[[Bass (vocal range)|bass]]
|[[Bass (voice type)|bass]]
|Karl Mayerhofer
|Karl Mayerhofer
|-
|-
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|
|
|-
|-
|colspan="3"|''Inhabitants of Wetzlar, guests, servants; off-stage women’s and children’s voices''
|colspan="3"|''Inhabitants of Wetzlar, guests, servants; off-stage women's and children's voices''
|-
|-
|}
|}
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==Instrumentation==
==Instrumentation==
2 [[Western concert flute|flutes]] (2nd doubling [[piccolo]]),
2 [[Western concert flute|flutes]] (2nd doubling [[piccolo]]),
2 [[Oboe]]s (doubling [[English horn]]s),
2 [[oboe]]s (doubling [[English horn]]s),
2 [[Clarinet]]s in [[soprano clarinet|B-flat and A]],
2 [[clarinet]]s in [[soprano clarinet|B-flat and A]],
[[Alto Saxophone]],
[[alto saxophone]],
2 [[Bassoon]]s,
2 [[bassoon]]s,
4 [[French horn|Horns]] in F,
4 [[French horn|horns]] in F,
2 [[Trumpet]]s (doubling [[Cornet]]s),
2 [[cornet]]s in B-flat and A,
3 [[Trombone]]s,
3 [[trombone]]s,
[[Tuba]],
[[tuba]],
[[Timpani]],
[[timpani]],
[[Percussion]] (1) ([[Bass Drum]], [[Triangle (music)|Triangle]]),
[[percussion]] (1) ([[bass drum]], [[Triangle (music)|triangle]]),
[[Harp]],
[[harp]],
[[string section|Strings]].
[[string section|strings]].


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
:Time: Within the period July to December, in an undefined year in the 1780s.
:Time: Within the period July to December, in an undefined year in the 1780s.
:Place: [[Wetzlar]] in Germany.
:Place: [[Wetzlar]] in Germany.
[[File:Claire Croiza as Charlotte in Massenet's Werther.jpg|thumb|left|[[Claire Croiza]] as Charlotte in 1907]]
[[File:Claire Croiza as Charlotte in Massenet's Werther.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Claire Croiza]] as Charlotte in 1907]]


===Act 1===
===Act 1===
In July, the widowed Bailiff (a Magistrate, rather than one who comes to seize property), is teaching his six youngest children a Christmas carol ("Noël! Jésus vient de naître / Alas! 'Tis Jesus's birthday!"). His drinking companions, Johann and Schmidt, arrive as Charlotte, the eldest daughter, dresses for a ball. Since her fiancé Albert is away, she is to be escorted by Werther, whom the Bailiff and his companions find gloomy. Werther arrives ("O Nature, pleine de grâce / O Nature, be by my side now"), and watches as Charlotte prepares her young siblings' supper, just as her mother had before she died. He greets her 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 Charlotte's younger sister Sophie. He leaves after promising to return in the morning. After an orchestral interlude, Werther and Charlotte return very late; he is already enamoured of 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 is in despair.
In July, the widowed Bailiff (a Magistrate, rather than one who comes to seize property), is teaching his six youngest children a Christmas carol ("Noël! Jésus vient de naître"). His drinking companions, Johann and Schmidt, arrive as Charlotte, the eldest daughter, dresses for a ball. Since her fiancé Albert is away, she is to be escorted by Werther, whom the Bailiff and his companions find gloomy. Werther arrives ("O Nature, pleine de grâce"), and watches as Charlotte prepares her young siblings' supper, just as her mother had before she died. He greets her 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 at home, but is reassured and consoled by Charlotte's younger sister Sophie. He leaves after promising to return in the morning. After an orchestral interlude, Werther and Charlotte return very late; he is already enamoured of 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 is in despair.


===Act 2===
===Act 2===
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===Act 3===
===Act 3===
{{listen
{{listen|type=music
|filename= Jeanette_Ekornaasvaag - Jules Massenet - Werther - "Va!_laisse_couler_mes_larmes".ogg
|filename= Jeanette_Ekornaasvaag - Jules Massenet - Werther - "Va!_laisse_couler_mes_larmes".ogg
|title="Va! laisse couler mes larmes"
|title="Va! laisse couler mes larmes"
|description=Sung by Charlotte in Act III. Sung by Jeanette Ekornaasvaag.
|description=Charlotte in act 3, sung by Jeanette Ekornåsvåg
}}
}}
Charlotte is at home alone on Christmas Eve. She spends time rereading Werther's letters to herself ("Werther! Qui m'aurait dit ... Ces lettres!"), wondering how the young poet is and how she had the strength to send him away. Sophie comes in and tries to cheer up her older sister ("Ah! le rire est béni"), though Charlotte is not to be consoled ("Va! laisse couler mes larmes"). Suddenly Werther appears, and while he reads to her some poetry of [[Ossian]] ("Pourquoi me réveiller?"), he realizes that she does indeed return 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 wife distraught. Werther sends a messenger to Albert, requesting to borrow his pistols, explaining he is going on an extended trip. After the servant has taken them, Charlotte has a terrible premonition and hurries to find Werther. An orchestral intermezzo ("La nuit de Noël") leads without a break into the final Act.
Charlotte is at home alone on Christmas Eve. She spends time rereading the letters that she has received from Werther ("Werther! Qui m'aurait dit ... Ces lettres!"), wondering how the young poet is and how she had the strength to send him away. Sophie comes in and tries to cheer up her older sister ("Ah! le rire est béni"), though Charlotte is not to be consoled ("Va! laisse couler mes larmes"). Suddenly Werther appears, and while he reads to her some poetry of [[Ossian]] ("Pourquoi me réveiller?"), he realizes that she does indeed return 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 wife distraught. Werther sends a messenger to Albert, requesting to borrow his pistols, explaining he is going on an extended trip. After the servant has taken them, Charlotte has a terrible premonition and hurries to find Werther. An orchestral intermezzo ("La nuit de Noël") leads without a break into the final Act.


===Act 4===
===Act 4===
Line 119: Line 137:


==Recordings==
==Recordings==
[[File:Werther (47789434092).jpg|thumb|Scene from a 2019 [[Florida Grand Opera]] production]]
A well-regarded recording of the complete opera was made in January 1931 by French Columbia with a French cast and the orchestra and chorus of the Opéra-Comique under the direction of [[Élie Cohen (musician)|Élie Cohen]]. Henry Fogel of ''[[Fanfare (magazine)|Fanfare]]'' magazine, writing in 1992, counted 14 complete recordings and considered it the finest of the lot.<ref>Fogel, Henry (September/October 1992). Review of the recording with Georges Thill as Werther (EMI CHS 7 63195 2). [http://www.fanfarearchive.com/articles/atop/16_1/1610050.zzhf_MASSENET_Werther_Elie_Cohen.html ''Fanfare'', '''16''' (1)]. Accessed November 16, 2010. Subscription required.</ref> His colleague, James Camner, reviewing the Opera d'Oro reissue in 2003, called it "one of the treasures of recorded opera. ... Unfortunately, the transfer is over filtered. The high frequencies are lost, giving the performance an unwarranted flatness. Happily, Naxos offers the same recording expertly transferred by Ward Marston, and acquiring it is a must."<ref>Camner, James (July/August 2003). Review of the recording with Georges Thill as Werther (OPERA D’ORO OD 1366). [http://www.fanfarearchive.com/articles/atop/26_6/266288.MASSENET_Werther-2.html ''Fanfare'', '''26''' (6)]. Accessed November 16, 2010. Subscription required.</ref> [[Alan Blyth]], while giving a very positive review of the reissue of the recording with Albert Lance as Werther and [[Rita Gorr]] as Charlotte in 2004, nevertheless pointed out that "neither quite has the ideal subtlety of the best Massenet singers, such as Vallin and Thill on the classic, pre-war set, now on Naxos".<ref>Blyth, Alan (March 2004). "Werther's Return". [http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/March%202004/83/745001/ ''Gramophone'', p. 83]. Accessed November 16, 2010.</ref>
A well-regarded recording of the complete opera was made in January 1931 by French Columbia with a French cast and the orchestra and chorus of the Opéra-Comique under the direction of [[Élie Cohen (conductor)|Élie Cohen]]. Henry Fogel of ''[[Fanfare (magazine)|Fanfare]]'' magazine, writing in 1992, counted 14 complete recordings and considered it the finest of the lot.<ref>Fogel, Henry (September/October 1992). Review of the recording with Georges Thill as Werther (EMI CHS 7 63195 2). [http://www.fanfarearchive.com/articles/atop/16_1/1610050.zzhf_MASSENET_Werther_Elie_Cohen.html ''Fanfare'', '''16''' (1)]. Accessed November 16, 2010. Subscription required.</ref> His colleague, James Camner, reviewing the Opera d'Oro reissue in 2003, called it "one of the treasures of recorded opera. ... Unfortunately, the transfer is over filtered. The high frequencies are lost, giving the performance an unwarranted flatness. Happily, Naxos offers the same recording expertly transferred by [[Ward Marston]], and acquiring it is a must."<ref>Camner, James (July/August 2003). Review of the recording with Georges Thill as Werther (OPERA D'ORO OD 1366). [http://www.fanfarearchive.com/articles/atop/26_6/266288.MASSENET_Werther-2.html ''Fanfare'', '''26''' (6)]. Accessed November 16, 2010. Subscription required.</ref> [[Alan Blyth]], while giving a very positive review of the reissue of the recording with [[Albert Lance]] as Werther and [[Rita Gorr]] as Charlotte in 2004, nevertheless pointed out that "neither quite has the ideal subtlety of the best Massenet singers, such as [[Ninon Vallin|Vallin]] and [[Georges Thill|Thill]] on the classic, pre-war set, now on Naxos".<ref>[[Alan Blyth|Blyth, Alan]] (March 2004). [http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/March%202004/83/745001/ "''Werther''{{'}}s Return".] ''[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]'', p. 83]. Accessed November 16, 2010.</ref>


In addition, many of the greatest French and Italian singers of the past century or more have recorded individual arias from Massenet's masterwork.
In addition, many of the greatest French and Italian singers of the past century or more have recorded individual arias from Massenet's masterwork.
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Year
!width="182"|Cast<br>(Charlotte,<br>Sophie,<br>Werther,<br>Albert)
!Cast<br>(Charlotte,<br>Sophie,<br>Werther,<br>Albert)
!Conductor,<br>Opera House and Orchestra
!Conductor,<br>opera house and orchestra
!Label<ref>[http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/CLMAWERT.HTM Recordings of ''Werther'' on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk]</ref>
!Label<ref>[http://www.operadis-opera-discography.org.uk/CLMAWERT.HTM Recordings of ''Werther'' on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk]</ref>
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|-
|1931 || [[Ninon Vallin]], <br>[[Germaine Féraldy]],<br> [[Georges Thill]],<br> [[Marcel Roque]] || [[Elie Cohen (musician)|Élie Cohen]] <br> [[Opéra-Comique|Orchestra and Chorus of the {{nowrap|Opéra-Comique}}]] ||Originally French Columbia<br>Audio CD: Naxos 8.110061-62, <br>Opera d'Oro OPD 1366
|1931 || [[Ninon Vallin]], <br>Germaine Féraldy,<br>[[Georges Thill]],
Marcel Roque
| Élie Cohen <br>[[Opéra-Comique|Orchestra and Chorus of the {{nowrap|Opéra-Comique}}]] ||Originally French Columbia<br>CD: Naxos 8.110061-62, <br>Opera d'Oro OPD 1366
|-
|-
|1934
⚫
|1953 || [[Pia Tassinari]],<br> Vittoria Neviani,<br>[[Ferruccio Tagliavini]],<br> Marcello Cortis || [[Francesco Molinari-Pradelli]]<br> Coro di Voci Bianchi, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino ||Audio CD: Warner-Fonit<br>Cat: 8573 87494-2
|[[Gianna Pederzini]],
Marisa Merlo,
[[Tito Schipa]],
Piero Biasini
|Franco Ghione
Orchestra e Coro del [[La Scala|Teatro alla Scala]] di Milano
|Edizioni Timaclub 1983
|in Italian
|-
|-
|1952 || [[Oralia Domínguez]],<br>Eugenia Rocabruna,<br>[[Giuseppe Di Stefano]],<br>Piero Campolonghi || [[Guido Picco]]<br>Orchestra e Coro del [[Palacio de Bellas Artes|Palacio de las Bellas Artes]]||CD: Gala<br>Cat: B0040V420O ||In Italian
⚫
|1953 || [[Suzanne Juyol]], <br> [[Agnes Léger]], <br> [[Charles Richard (tenor)|Charles Richard]], <br> [[Roger Bourdin]] || [[Georges Sébastian]] <br> [[Opéra-Comique|Orchestra and Chorus of the {{nowrap|Opéra-Comique}}]] ||Originally [[Nixa Records|Nixa]]/Urania<br />
|-
Audio CD: Andromeda<br>Cat: ANDRCD 5073
⚫
|1953 || [[Pia Tassinari]],<br>Vittoria Neviani,<br>[[Ferruccio Tagliavini]],<br>Marcello Cortis || [[Francesco Molinari-Pradelli]]<br>Coro di Voci Bianchi, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino ||CD: Warner-Fonit<br>Cat: 8573 87494-2
|-
⚫
|1953 || [[Suzanne Juyol]], <br>Agnes Léger, <br>Charles Richard, <br>[[Roger Bourdin]] || [[Georges Sébastian]] <br>[[Opéra-Comique|Orchestra and Chorus of the {{nowrap|Opéra-Comique}}]] ||Originally [[Nixa Records|Nixa]]/Urania<br />CD: Andromeda<br>Cat: ANDRCD 5073
|-
|1954 || [[Maria Maksakova Sr.|Maria Maksakova]], <br>Maria Zvezdina, <br>[[Ivan Kozlovsky]], <br>[[Vladimir Sakharov]] || [[Onisim Bron|Onissim Bron]] <br>Moscow Radio Orchestra ||CD: Myto<br>Cat: B000027HNO ||In Russian
|-
|-
|1959
|1959
|[[Leyla Gencer]],<br>Giuliana Tavolaccini,<br>[[Ferruccio Tagliavini]],<br>Mario Borriello ||[[Carlo Felice Cillario]]<br>Coro di Teatro Verdi di Trieste Orchestra e Coro ||Audio CD: Opera d'Oro<br>Cat: 1234 ||In Italian
|[[Leyla Gencer]],<br>Giuliana Tavolaccini,<br>[[Ferruccio Tagliavini]],<br>Mario Borriello ||[[Carlo Felice Cillario]]<br>Coro di [[Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi|Teatro Verdi di Trieste]] Orchestra e Coro ||CD: Opera d'Oro<br>Cat: 1234 ||In Italian
|-
|-
|| 1964 || [[Rita Gorr]], <br> [[Mady Mesplé]], <br> [[Albert Lance]], <br> [[Gabriel Bacquier]] || [[Jésus Etcheverry]] <br> [[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française|Orchestra and Chorus of the Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française]] ||CD: Accord<br>Cat: 472 917-2
|| 1964 || [[Rita Gorr]], <br>[[Mady Mesplé]], <br>[[Albert Lance]], <br>[[Gabriel Bacquier]] || [[Jésus Etcheverry]] <br>[[Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française|Orchestra and Chorus of the Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française]] ||CD: Accord<br>Cat: 472 917-2
|-
|-
| 1968-69 || [[Victoria de los Ángeles]], <br> [[Mady Mesplé]], <br> [[Nicolai Gedda]], <br> [[Roger Soyer]] || [[Georges Prêtre]] <br> [[Orchestre de Paris]] ||Audio CD: [[EMI]]<br>Cat: 562 6272
| 1968-69 || [[Victoria de los Ángeles]], <br>[[Mady Mesplé]], <br>[[Nicolai Gedda]], <br>[[Roger Soyer]] || [[Georges Prêtre]] <br>[[Orchestre de Paris]] ||CD: [[EMI]]<br>Cat: 562 6272
|-
|-
| 1979 || [[Tatiana Troyanos]], <br> [[Christine Barbaux]], <br> [[Alfredo Kraus]], <br> [[Matteo Manuguerra]] || [[Michel Plasson]] <br> [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]] ||Audio CD: [[EMI]]<br>Cat: 7 49610-2
| 1971 || [[Virginia Zeani]], <br>Valeria Mariconda, <br>[[Alfredo Kraus]], <br>[[Domenico Trimarchi]] || [[Antonino Votto]] <br>[[Teatro Massimo|Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Massimo di Palermo]] ||CD: G.O.P.<br>Cat: 749-CD2 ||In Italian
|-
|-
| 1979 || [[Elena Obraztsova]], <br> [[Arleen Augér]], <br> [[Plácido Domingo]], <br> [[Franz Grundheber]] || [[Riccardo Chailly]] <br> [[Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra]] ||Audio CD: [[Deutsche Grammophon]]<br>Cat: 477 5652-1
| 1977 || [[Brigitte Fassbaender]], <br>Marianne Seibel,<br>[[Plácido Domingo]],<br>[[Hans Günter Nöcker|Hans Günther Nöcker]]|| [[Jesús López Cobos]] <br>[[Bayerisches Staatsorchester]] ||CD: Orfeo<br>Cat: B00000AFDE
|-
|-
|1980 || [[Frederica von Stade]], <br> [[Isobel Buchanan]], <br> [[José Carreras]], <br> [[Thomas Allen (baritone)|Thomas Allen]] || Sir [[Colin Davis]] <br> Orchestra of the [[Royal Opera House]], Covent Garden ||Audio CD: [[Philips Records|Philips]]<br>Cat: 475 496-2
| 1979 || [[Tatiana Troyanos]], <br>Christine Barbaux, <br>[[Alfredo Kraus]], <br>[[Matteo Manuguerra]] || [[Michel Plasson]] <br>[[London Philharmonic Orchestra]] ||CD: [[EMI]]<br>Cat: 7 49610-2
|-
|-
| 1979 || [[Elena Obraztsova]], <br>[[Arleen Auger]], <br>[[Plácido Domingo]], <br>[[Franz Grundheber]] || [[Riccardo Chailly]] <br>[[Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra]] ||CD: [[Deutsche Grammophon]]<br>Cat: 477 5652-1
⚫
|1985 || [[Brigitte Fassbaender]],<br>Magdéna Hajossyová (vocals), <br>[[Peter Dvorský]],<br>Hans Helm (vocals) || [[Libor Pešek]] <br>Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra,<br>Chorus of the Bambini di Praga<br>(Television film directed by Petr Weigl)||CD (soundtrack): [[Supraphon]]<br>Cat: 11 1547-2 632<br>[[Laserdisc|LD]]: Amadeo PHLK 7503<br>{{nowrap|DVD: Image Entertainment}}<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000JMP9 Details of this recording of ''Werther'' on amazon.com]</ref>
|-
|-
|1998 || [[Vesselina Kasarova]], <br> [[Dawn Kotoski]], <br> [[Ramón Vargas]], <br> [[Christopher Schaldenbrand]] || [[Vladimir Jurowski]] <br> [[Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin]] ||Audio CD: [[RCA Victor]]<br>Cat: 74321 58224-2
|[[Werther (Colin Davis recording)|1980]] || [[Frederica von Stade]], <br>[[Isobel Buchanan]], <br>[[José Carreras]], <br>[[Thomas Allen (baritone)|Thomas Allen]] || Sir [[Colin Davis]] <br>Orchestra of the [[Royal Opera House]], Covent Garden ||CD: [[Philips Records|Philips]]<br>Cat: 416 654-2
|-
|-
⚫
|1985 || [[Brigitte Fassbaender]],<br>[[Magdaléna Hajóssyová|Magdaléna Hajossyová]], <br>[[Peter Dvorský]],<br>Hans Helm || [[Libor Pešek]] <br>[[Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra]],<br>Chorus of the [[Bambini di Praga]]<br>(Television film directed by [[Petr Weigl]])||CD (soundtrack): [[Supraphon]]<br>Cat: 11 1547-2 632<br>[[Laserdisc|LD]]: Amadeo PHLK 7503<br>{{nowrap|DVD: Image Entertainment}}<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000JMP9 1985 recording of ''Werther''], amazon.com</ref>
⚫
|1998 || [[Angela Gheorghiu]], <br> [[Patricia Petibon]], <br> [[Roberto Alagna]], <br> [[Thomas Hampson (baritone)|Thomas Hampson]] || [[Antonio Pappano]] <br> [[London Symphony Orchestra]] ||Audio CD: [[EMI]]<br>Cat: EMI 81849
|-
|-
|2005 || [[Elīna Garanča]], <br> Ileana Tonca,<br>[[Marcelo Álvarez]], <br>[[Adrian Eröd]] || [[Philippe Jordan]]<br>[[Vienna State Opera]]<br>(Video of a performance in March)|| DVD: [[TDK]]<br>Cat: DVWW-OPWER
|1998 || [[Vesselina Kasarova]], <br>[[Dawn Kotoski]], <br>[[Ramón Vargas]], <br>Christopher Schaldenbrand || [[Vladimir Jurowski]] <br>[[Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin]] ||CD: [[RCA Victor]]<br>Cat: 74321 58224-2
|-
|-
⚫
|1998 || [[Angela Gheorghiu]], <br>[[Patricia Petibon]], <br>[[Roberto Alagna]], <br>[[Thomas Hampson]] || [[Antonio Pappano]] <br>[[London Symphony Orchestra]] ||CD: [[EMI]]<br>Cat: EMI 81849
⚫
|2004 || [[Susan Graham]],<br /> [[Sandrine Piau]],<br />[[Thomas Hampson (baritone)|Thomas Hampson]] (baritone),<br />Stéphane Degout || [[Michel Plasson]]<br />[[Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse|Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse]]<br>(Video of a concert performance on 29 April)|| DVD: [[Virgin Records|Virgin Classics]]<br>Cat: 359257-9
|-
|-
|1999 || [[Béatrice Uria-Monzon]], <br>Jaël Azzaretti, <br>[[Marcus Haddock]], <br>[[René Massis]] || [[Jean-Claude Casadesus]] <br>[[Orchestre National de Lille]] ||CD: [[Naxos Records|Naxos]]<br>Cat: 8.660072-73
⚫
|2010 || Sophie Koch,<br />Anne-Catherine Gillet,<br /> [[Jonas Kaufmann]],<br />Ludovic Tézier || Michel Plasson<br />[[Opéra National de Paris]] || DVD: [[Decca Records|Decca]]<br>Cat: B0014794-09<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZWTGKU Details of this recording of ''Werther'' on amazon.com]</ref><ref>Performance, both conductor and singers, are reviewed quite favorably by Matthew Gurewitsch in ''[[Opera News]]'' (February 2011, p. 66). He has strong reservations about the production and the video direction, however.</ref>
|-
|-
|2005 || [[Elīna Garanča]], <br>[[:de:Ileana Tonca|Ileana Tonca]],<br>[[Marcelo Álvarez]], <br>[[Adrian Eröd]] || [[Philippe Jordan]]<br>[[Vienna State Opera]]<br>(Video of a performance in March)|| DVD: [[TDK]]<br>Cat: DVWW-OPWER
⚫
|2012 || Sophie Koch,<br />Eri Nakamura,<br /> [[Rolando Villazón]],<br />Audun Iversen || [[Antonio Pappano]]<br />Orchestra of the [[Royal Opera House]] || Audio CD: [[Deutsche Grammophon]]<br>Cat: 0289 477 9340 3<ref>[http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4779340 Details of this recording of ''Werther'' on DeutscheGrammophon.com]</ref>
|-
⚫
|2004 || [[Susan Graham]],<br />[[Sandrine Piau]],<br />[[Thomas Hampson]] (baritone),<br />[[Stéphane Degout]] || [[Michel Plasson]]<br />[[Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse|Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse]]<br>(Video of a concert performance on 29 April)|| DVD: [[Virgin Records|Virgin Classics]]<br>Cat: 359257-9
|-
⚫
|2010 || [[Sophie Koch]],<br />[[Anne-Catherine Gillet]],<br />[[Jonas Kaufmann]],<br />[[Ludovic Tézier]]|| Michel Plasson<br />[[Opéra National de Paris]] || DVD: [[Decca Records|Decca]]<br>Cat: B0014794-09<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZWTGKU 2010 recording of ''Werther''], amazon.com</ref><ref>Performance, both conductor and singers, are reviewed quite favorably by Matthew Gurewitsch in ''[[Opera News]]'' (February 2011, p. 66). He has strong reservations about the production and the video direction, however.</ref>
|-
⚫
|2012 || [[Sophie Koch]],<br />Eri Nakamura,<br />[[Rolando Villazón]],<br />[[Audun Iversen]]|| [[Antonio Pappano]]<br />Orchestra of the [[Royal Opera House]] || CD: [[Deutsche Grammophon]]<br>Cat: 0289 477 9340 3<ref>[http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4779340 Details of this recording of ''Werther'' on DeutscheGrammophon.com]</ref>
|-
|2018 || Anna Stéphany,<br />[[Mélissa Petit]],<br />[[Juan Diego Flórez]],<br />[[Audun Iversen]]|| [[Cornelius Meister]]<br />Orchestra of the [[Zürich Opera House]]<br />(Video of a 2017 performance) || DVD / Blu-Ray: Accentus<br /> Cat: ACC10427 (Blu-Ray), ACC20427 (DVD)<br>
|-
|2024 || [[Véronique Gens]],<br />Hélène Carpentier,<br />[[Tassis Christoyannis]],<br />Thomas Dolié|| [[György Vashegyi]]<br />Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra<br />||CD: [[Bru Zane]]<br>Cat: BZ1056
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
;Notes
'''Notes'''
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

;Sources
==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=The Standard Opera Guide |last=Upton |first=George |author2=Borowski, Felix |year=1928 |publisher=Blue Ribbon Books, N.Y. |pages=187–8 }}
* {{cite book |title=[[The Complete Opera Book]] |last=Kobbé |first=Gustav |year=1976 |publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |location=New York |pages=864–9}}
* {{cite book|title=The Standard Opera Guide|last1=Upton|first1=George|author-link=George Putnam Upton|last2=Borowski|first2=Felix|author-link2=Felix Borowski|year=1928|publisher=Blue Ribbon Books, New York|pages=187–8}}
* {{cite book |title=French Opera at the Fin de Siècle: Werther |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KSQGZOTQKmwC&pg=PA113&dq=%22Stagecraft+Massenet%27s%22 |last=Huebner |first=Steven |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford Univ. Press, US |pages=113–34 |isbn=978-0-19-518954-4 }}
* {{cite book|title=[[The Complete Opera Book]]|last=Kobbé|first=Gustav|author-link=Gustav Kobbé|year=1976|publisher=G. P. Putnam's Sons|location=New York|pages=864–9}}
* {{cite book |title=French Opera at the Fin de Siècle: Werther |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KSQGZOTQKmwC&q=%22Stagecraft+Massenet%27s%22&pg=PA113 |last=Huebner |first=Steven |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press, US |pages=113–34 |isbn=978-0-19-518954-4 }}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMSLP2|work=Werther_%28Massenet%2C_Jules%29|cname=''Werther''}}
* {{IMSLP|work=Werther_%28Massenet%2C_Jules%29|cname=''Werther''}}
* [http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/aby3341/large/index.html ''Werther'': Full orchestral score at indiana.edu]
* [http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/scores/aby3341/large/index.html ''Werther'': Full orchestral score], indiana.edu
* [https://archive.org/details/wertherdramelyri1893mass Werther : drame lyrique en quatre actes et cinq tableaux (d'apres Goethe)], 1893 publication, French, digitization by [[Brigham Young University|BYU]] on archive.org


{{Jules Massenet|state=collapsed}}
{{Jules Massenet|state=collapsed}}
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[[Category:Operas set in Germany]]
[[Category:Operas set in Germany]]
[[Category:Operas based on novels]]
[[Category:Operas based on novels]]
[[Category:Works based on The Sorrows of Young Werther]]

Latest revision as of 02:55, 24 July 2024

This article is about the opera by Massenet. For other uses, see Werther (disambiguation).
Werther
drame lyrique by Jules Massenet
Grasset poster for 1893 French premiere of Werther
Librettist
LanguageFrench
Based onDie Leiden des jungen Werther
by Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Premiere
16 February 1892 (1892-02-16)
Hofoper, Vienna (in German)

Werther is an opera (drame lyrique) in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul Milliet and Georges Hartmann (who used the pseudonym Henri Grémont). It is loosely based on Goethe's epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther, which was based both on fact and on Goethe's own early life. Earlier examples of operas using the story were made by Kreutzer (1792) and Pucitta (1802).[1]

Performance history

[edit]

Massenet started composing Werther in 1885, completing it in 1887. He submitted it to Léon Carvalho, the director of the Paris Opéra-Comique, that year, but Carvalho declined to accept it on the grounds that the scenario was too serious.[1] With the disruption of the fire at the Opéra-Comique and Massenet's work on other operatic projects (especially Esclarmonde), it was put to one side, until the Vienna Opera, pleased with the success of Manon, asked the composer for a new work. Werther received its premiere on 16 February 1892 (in a German version translated by Max Kalbeck) at the Imperial Theatre Hofoper in Vienna.[1]

The French-language premiere followed in Geneva on 27 December 1892.[2] The first performance in France was given by the Opéra-Comique at the Théâtre Lyrique on the Place du Châtelet in Paris on 16 January 1893, with Marie Delna as Charlotte and Guillaume Ibos in the title role, conducted by Jules Danbé, but was not immediately successful.[1]

Werther entered the repertoire at the Opéra-Comique in 1903 in a production supervised by Albert Carré,[1] and over the next half-century the opera was performed over 1,100 times there, Léon Beyle becoming a distinguished interpreter of Werther.[3]

The United States premiere with the Metropolitan Opera took place in Chicago on 29 March 1894 and then in the company's main house in New York City three weeks later.[4] The UK premiere was a one-off performance at Covent Garden, London, on 11 June 1894[2] with Emma Eames as Charlotte, Sigrid Arnoldson as Sophie, and Jean de Reszke in the title role.

Werther is still regularly performed around the world and has been recorded many times. Although the role of Werther was written for a tenor, Massenet adjusted it for a baritone, when Mattia Battistini sang it in Saint Petersburg in 1902. It is very occasionally performed in this version, in which the changes affect only the vocal line for the title character. There are no other changes to the words, to the lines for other characters, or to the orchestration.

Roles

[edit]
Ernest van Dyck in the title role, its first singer, ca. 1892
Role Voice type Premiere cast, 16 February 1892[5]
(Conductor: Wilhelm Jahn)
Charlotte, aged 20 mezzo-soprano Marie Renard
Sophie, her sister, aged 15 soprano Ellen Brandt-Forster
Werther, a young poet, aged 23 tenor Ernest van Dyck
Albert, betrothed to Charlotte; aged 25 baritone Franz Neidl
Le Bailli, Charlotte's father; aged 50 bass Karl Mayerhofer
Schmidt, a friend of the Bailli tenor Anton Schlittenhelm
Johann, a friend of the Bailli baritone Benedikt Felix
Brühlmann, a young man tenor August Stoll
Käthchen, Brühlmann's fiancée of seven years mezzo-soprano Emma Karlona
Children of the Bailli – Fritz, Max, Hans, Karl, Gretel, Clara children's voices
Inhabitants of Wetzlar, guests, servants; off-stage women's and children's voices

Instrumentation

[edit]

2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (doubling English horns), 2 clarinets in B-flat and A, alto saxophone, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 2 cornets in B-flat and A, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (1) (bass drum, triangle), harp, strings.

Synopsis

[edit]
Time: Within the period July to December, in an undefined year in the 1780s.
Place: Wetzlar in Germany.
Claire Croiza as Charlotte in 1907

Act 1

[edit]

In July, the widowed Bailiff (a Magistrate, rather than one who comes to seize property), is teaching his six youngest children a Christmas carol ("Noël! Jésus vient de naître"). His drinking companions, Johann and Schmidt, arrive as Charlotte, the eldest daughter, dresses for a ball. Since her fiancé Albert is away, she is to be escorted by Werther, whom the Bailiff and his companions find gloomy. Werther arrives ("O Nature, pleine de grâce"), and watches as Charlotte prepares her young siblings' supper, just as her mother had before she died. He greets her 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 at home, but is reassured and consoled by Charlotte's younger sister Sophie. He leaves after promising to return in the morning. After an orchestral interlude, Werther and Charlotte return very late; he is already enamoured of 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 is in despair.

Act 2

[edit]

It is three months later, and Charlotte and Albert are now married. They walk happily to church to celebrate the minister's 50th wedding anniversary, followed by the disconsolate Werther ("Un autre est son époux!"). First Albert and then Sophie ("Du gai soleil, plein de flamme") try to cheer him up. When Charlotte exits the church, he speaks to her of their first meeting. Charlotte begs Werther to leave her, though she indicates that she would be willing to receive him again on Christmas Day. Werther contemplates suicide ("Lorsque l'enfant revient d'un voyage"). He encounters Sophie but the tearful girl does not understand his distressing behavior. Albert now realizes that Werther loves Charlotte.

Act 3

[edit]
"Va! laisse couler mes larmes"
Charlotte in act 3, sung by Jeanette Ekornåsvåg
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Charlotte is at home alone on Christmas Eve. She spends time rereading the letters that she has received from Werther ("Werther! Qui m'aurait dit ... Ces lettres!"), wondering how the young poet is and how she had the strength to send him away. Sophie comes in and tries to cheer up her older sister ("Ah! le rire est béni"), though Charlotte is not to be consoled ("Va! laisse couler mes larmes"). Suddenly Werther appears, and while he reads to her some poetry of Ossian ("Pourquoi me réveiller?"), he realizes that she does indeed return 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 wife distraught. Werther sends a messenger to Albert, requesting to borrow his pistols, explaining he is going on an extended trip. After the servant has taken them, Charlotte has a terrible premonition and hurries to find Werther. An orchestral intermezzo ("La nuit de Noël") leads without a break into the final Act.

Act 4

[edit]

"The death of Werther": At Werther's apartment, Charlotte has arrived too late to stop him from shooting himself; he is dying. She consoles him by declaring her love. He asks for forgiveness. After he dies, Charlotte faints. Outside children are heard singing the Christmas carol.

Noted arias

[edit]

Recordings

[edit]
Scene from a 2019 Florida Grand Opera production

A well-regarded recording of the complete opera was made in January 1931 by French Columbia with a French cast and the orchestra and chorus of the Opéra-Comique under the direction of Élie Cohen. Henry Fogel of Fanfare magazine, writing in 1992, counted 14 complete recordings and considered it the finest of the lot.[6] His colleague, James Camner, reviewing the Opera d'Oro reissue in 2003, called it "one of the treasures of recorded opera. ... Unfortunately, the transfer is over filtered. The high frequencies are lost, giving the performance an unwarranted flatness. Happily, Naxos offers the same recording expertly transferred by Ward Marston, and acquiring it is a must."[7] Alan Blyth, while giving a very positive review of the reissue of the recording with Albert Lance as Werther and Rita Gorr as Charlotte in 2004, nevertheless pointed out that "neither quite has the ideal subtlety of the best Massenet singers, such as Vallin and Thill on the classic, pre-war set, now on Naxos".[8]

In addition, many of the greatest French and Italian singers of the past century or more have recorded individual arias from Massenet's masterwork.

Year Cast
(Charlotte,
Sophie,
Werther,
Albert) 		Conductor,
opera house and orchestra 		Label[9] Notes
1931 Ninon Vallin,
Germaine Féraldy,
Georges Thill,

Marcel Roque

Élie Cohen
Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra-Comique		 Originally French Columbia
CD: Naxos 8.110061-62,
Opera d'Oro OPD 1366
1934 Gianna Pederzini,

Marisa Merlo, Tito Schipa, Piero Biasini

Franco Ghione

Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala di Milano

Edizioni Timaclub 1983 in Italian
1952 Oralia Domínguez,
Eugenia Rocabruna,
Giuseppe Di Stefano,
Piero Campolonghi		 Guido Picco
Orchestra e Coro del Palacio de las Bellas Artes		 CD: Gala
Cat: B0040V420O		 In Italian
1953 Pia Tassinari,
Vittoria Neviani,
Ferruccio Tagliavini,
Marcello Cortis		 Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Coro di Voci Bianchi, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino		 CD: Warner-Fonit
Cat: 8573 87494-2
1953 Suzanne Juyol,
Agnes Léger,
Charles Richard,
Roger Bourdin		 Georges Sébastian
Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra-Comique		 Originally Nixa/Urania
CD: Andromeda
Cat: ANDRCD 5073
1954 Maria Maksakova,
Maria Zvezdina,
Ivan Kozlovsky,
Vladimir Sakharov		 Onissim Bron
Moscow Radio Orchestra		 CD: Myto
Cat: B000027HNO		 In Russian
1959 Leyla Gencer,
Giuliana Tavolaccini,
Ferruccio Tagliavini,
Mario Borriello		 Carlo Felice Cillario
Coro di Teatro Verdi di Trieste Orchestra e Coro		 CD: Opera d'Oro
Cat: 1234		 In Italian
1964 Rita Gorr,
Mady Mesplé,
Albert Lance,
Gabriel Bacquier		 Jésus Etcheverry
Orchestra and Chorus of the Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française		 CD: Accord
Cat: 472 917-2
1968-69 Victoria de los Ángeles,
Mady Mesplé,
Nicolai Gedda,
Roger Soyer		 Georges Prêtre
Orchestre de Paris		 CD: EMI
Cat: 562 6272
1971 Virginia Zeani,
Valeria Mariconda,
Alfredo Kraus,
Domenico Trimarchi		 Antonino Votto
Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Massimo di Palermo		 CD: G.O.P.
Cat: 749-CD2		 In Italian
1977 Brigitte Fassbaender,
Marianne Seibel,
Plácido Domingo,
Hans Günther Nöcker		 Jesús López Cobos
Bayerisches Staatsorchester		 CD: Orfeo
Cat: B00000AFDE
1979 Tatiana Troyanos,
Christine Barbaux,
Alfredo Kraus,
Matteo Manuguerra		 Michel Plasson
London Philharmonic Orchestra		 CD: EMI
Cat: 7 49610-2
1979 Elena Obraztsova,
Arleen Auger,
Plácido Domingo,
Franz Grundheber		 Riccardo Chailly
Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra		 CD: Deutsche Grammophon
Cat: 477 5652-1
1980 Frederica von Stade,
Isobel Buchanan,
José Carreras,
Thomas Allen		 Sir Colin Davis
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden		 CD: Philips
Cat: 416 654-2
1985 Brigitte Fassbaender,
Magdaléna Hajossyová,
Peter Dvorský,
Hans Helm		 Libor Pešek
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Chorus of the Bambini di Praga
(Television film directed by Petr Weigl)		 CD (soundtrack): Supraphon
Cat: 11 1547-2 632
LD: Amadeo PHLK 7503
DVD: Image Entertainment[10]
1998 Vesselina Kasarova,
Dawn Kotoski,
Ramón Vargas,
Christopher Schaldenbrand		 Vladimir Jurowski
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin		 CD: RCA Victor
Cat: 74321 58224-2
1998 Angela Gheorghiu,
Patricia Petibon,
Roberto Alagna,
Thomas Hampson		 Antonio Pappano
London Symphony Orchestra		 CD: EMI
Cat: EMI 81849
1999 Béatrice Uria-Monzon,
Jaël Azzaretti,
Marcus Haddock,
René Massis		 Jean-Claude Casadesus
Orchestre National de Lille		 CD: Naxos
Cat: 8.660072-73
2005 Elīna Garanča,
Ileana Tonca,
Marcelo Álvarez,
Adrian Eröd		 Philippe Jordan
Vienna State Opera
(Video of a performance in March)		 DVD: TDK
Cat: DVWW-OPWER
2004 Susan Graham,
Sandrine Piau,
Thomas Hampson (baritone),
Stéphane Degout		 Michel Plasson
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse
(Video of a concert performance on 29 April)		 DVD: Virgin Classics
Cat: 359257-9
2010 Sophie Koch,
Anne-Catherine Gillet,
Jonas Kaufmann,
Ludovic Tézier		 Michel Plasson
Opéra National de Paris		 DVD: Decca
Cat: B0014794-09[11][12]
2012 Sophie Koch,
Eri Nakamura,
Rolando Villazón,
Audun Iversen		 Antonio Pappano
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House		 CD: Deutsche Grammophon
Cat: 0289 477 9340 3[13]
2018 Anna Stéphany,
Mélissa Petit,
Juan Diego Flórez,
Audun Iversen		 Cornelius Meister
Orchestra of the Zürich Opera House
(Video of a 2017 performance)		 DVD / Blu-Ray: Accentus
Cat: ACC10427 (Blu-Ray), ACC20427 (DVD)
2024 Véronique Gens,
Hélène Carpentier,
Tassis Christoyannis,
Thomas Dolié		 György Vashegyi
Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra
 CD: Bru Zane
Cat: BZ1056

References

[edit]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Milnes R. Werther. In: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.
  2. ^ a b Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 5th ed., 1954
  3. ^ Wolff, Stéphane. Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique (1900–1950). André Bonne, Paris, 1953.
  4. ^ MetOpera database
  5. ^ Werther page at the French Art Lyrique webpage accessed 5 September 2014.
  6. ^ Fogel, Henry (September/October 1992). Review of the recording with Georges Thill as Werther (EMI CHS 7 63195 2). Fanfare, 16 (1). Accessed November 16, 2010. Subscription required.
  7. ^ Camner, James (July/August 2003). Review of the recording with Georges Thill as Werther (OPERA D'ORO OD 1366). Fanfare, 26 (6). Accessed November 16, 2010. Subscription required.
  8. ^ Blyth, Alan (March 2004). "Werther's Return". Gramophone, p. 83]. Accessed November 16, 2010.
  9. ^ Recordings of Werther on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
  10. ^ 1985 recording of Werther, amazon.com
  11. ^ 2010 recording of Werther, amazon.com
  12. ^ Performance, both conductor and singers, are reviewed quite favorably by Matthew Gurewitsch in Opera News (February 2011, p. 66). He has strong reservations about the production and the video direction, however.
  13. ^ Details of this recording of Werther on DeutscheGrammophon.com

Further reading

[edit]
  • Upton, George; Borowski, Felix (1928). The Standard Opera Guide. Blue Ribbon Books, New York. pp. 187–8.
  • Kobbé, Gustav (1976). The Complete Opera Book. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. pp. 864–9.
  • Huebner, Steven (2006). French Opera at the Fin de Siècle: Werther. Oxford University Press, US. pp. 113–34. ISBN 978-0-19-518954-4.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Werther&oldid=1236325949"