When it comes to romances that tear at the heartstrings, this one ranks among the best. Goethe’s novel on which it’s based made him the toast of Europe. And Jules Massenet’s emotionally vivid music - sometimes grandiose, sometimes achingly fragile - brilliantly illuminates the complex psychology of its troubled protagonists.
Tenor superstar Matthew Polenzani portrays the poet Werther. When he and the lovely Charlotte meet, they’re smitten. Here is the woman of this sensitive man’s dreams! But his rapture soon dissolves into desolation when Charlotte follows the wishes of her dying mother and marries another man. Yet she cannot bring herself to tell Werther to give her up. And so he lives in hope - but in the end, he’s doomed. Charlotte may love him, but she’ll never be his. Saturday, May 25th, 1 to 4 pm.
http://youtu.be/rLezkNvWaCA
Lyric Opera of Chicago: Jules Massenet's WERTHER (sung in French)
Cast:
Werther: Matthew Polenzani
Charlotte: Sophie Koch
Sophie: Kiri Deonarine
Albert: Craig Verm
Bailiff: Philip Kraus
Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis