Werther loves with thrilling intensity. But passion blooms into a dangerous obsession when the young poet discovers his love can never be realised.
Goethe’s powerful novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, moved the world upon its release in 1774. Young men cried their anguish into tiny glass vials and carried around their tears to prove the depth of their emotions. They wore the poet’s signature clothes, and a few lovelorn souls even followed his path, seeking death over a life without love.
In the ultimate Romantic opera, Massenet’s rich score magnifies the drama and emotion of the story. Werther falls hopelessly in love with Charlotte in lyrical, melodious phrases. As Charlotte chooses duty over heart, Werther’s turmoil is palpable in restless music that bursts out of an enormous orchestra. The French composer’s ability to evoke mood and moment in music is on brilliant display.
Any tenor that can master the psychological range and musical difficulty of Werther is guaranteed a new signature role. Young star, Michael Fabiano, is renowned for his intense, character-driven performances. Hear his role debut as the troubled poet, with acclaimed mezzo-soprano Elena Maximova as Charlotte and Carlo Montanaro as conductor.
