Werther

We have known it for a long time... Love stories in opera do not always end well. When Goethe published The Sorrows of Young Werther, the story of Charlotte and her suitor was so successful that it caused a real "Werther fever", causing the suicide of young people who would do anything to imitate their heroes. More than a century later, Massenet was inspired by the story of this impossible love and signed his major work. While using the resources of the great symphony orchestra, he created an intimate atmosphere, one of the highlights of which is the aria "Pourquoi me réveiller, ô souffle du printemps...", a veritable "hit" of Massenet's most sensitive opera. It is worth noting that the version presented here is for baritone, written ten years after the original version for tenor. By using a lower timbre, the title role changes colour and becomes darker, moving away from the model of the spirited young poet to highlight the torments of a grown man. Sir Simon Keenlyside, amazing Rigoletto here last season, takes up the challenge tonight.

COPRODUCTION Théâtre des Champs-Elysées / Opéra National de Lyon