|
Jules Massenet (1842-1912):
Werther
5099930911321
Opera in four acts
Libretto: Edouard Blau, Paul Milliet & Georges Hartmann after Goethe
| Werther |
ALFREDO KRAUS |
| Charlotte |
TATIANA TROYANOS |
| Sophie |
CHRISTINE BARBAUX |
| Albert |
MATTEO MANUGUERRA |
| Le Bailli (The Steward) |
JULES BASTIN |
| Johann |
JEAN-PHILIPPE LAFONT |
| Schmidt |
PHILIP LANGRIDGE |
| Käthchen |
LYNDA RICHARDSON |
| Brühlmann |
MICHAEL LEWIS |
| Children: Covent Garden Singers, trained by Jean Povey |
| Fritz |
SEBASTIAN JAMES |
| Max |
MARK FORKGEN |
| Hans |
FRANÇOIS EVANS |
| Karl |
IVO MARTINEZ |
| Gretel |
CAROL-LYNN HARTRIDGE |
| Clara |
SOPHIA MARTINEZ |
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Michel Plasson
|
|
Introduction
Perhaps the most elegant tenor of his era, Alfredo Kraus, as Goethe's doomed poet, is paired with Tatiana Troyanos, a dutiful Charlotte who quivers with suppressed passion. Conductor Michel Plasson once again proves his mastery of Massenet's sweep and nuance.
Synopsis
This story of a hypersensitive and ultimately suicidal poet, set in the late 18th century, was based on a landmark of Romantic literature, Goethe’s Die Leiden des jungen Werthers. First performed (in Vienna) in 1892, it tells of Werther’s frustrated love for Charlotte, who has promised her dying mother that she will marry Albert, a friend of the family. Although Charlotte reciprocates Werther’s love, she dutifully marries Albert and remains faithful to him. Ultimately, Werther cannot tolerate the situation any longer, and he shoots himself – with a gun borrowed from Charlotte’s husband.
Perhaps the most famous number in a score full of lyrical beauties is Werther’s plaintive Act III aria, ‘Pourquoi me réveiller’, setting a poem of Ossian – a supposed (in fact spurious) Celtic bard and an emblematic figure in early Romanticism. It comes shortly after Charlotte’s celebrated ‘Air des lettres’, as she reads tearfully through letters that Werther has sent her and, to the accompaniment of a mournful saxophone, reveals the true depths of her feelings for him. Surrounding the central couple are perceptively portrayed characters: the reserved Albert; Charlotte’s high-spirited, affectionate sister, Sophie; the girls’ father, the Bailiff, and his jovial neighbours, Schmidt and Johann.
|
Compact Disc 1 76.01
ACT ONE
1 Prélude... Assez ! Assez ! (Orchestra/Le Bailli) 4.28
2 Noël! Jésus vient de naître (Children/Le Bailli) 1.56
3 Bravo pour les enfants ! 5.09
(Johann/Schmidt/Les enfants/Le Bailli/Sophie)
4 Alors, c’est bien ici... Je ne sais si je veille 11.30
(Werther/Les enfants/Charlotte/Le Bailli/Brühlmann/Käthchen/Sophie)
5 Ô spectacle idéal d’amour et d’innocence 5.22
(Werther/Le Bailli/Charlotte/Sophie/Albert)
6 Elle m’aime !... elle pense à moi (Albert) 2.22
7 Clair de lune (Orchestra) 2.37
8 Il faut nous séparer 2.25
9 Mon âme a reconnu votre âme 0.55
10 Vous avez dit vrai ! (Charlotte/Werther) 2.54
11 Rêve ! Extase ! Bonheur ! (Werther/Charlotte/Le Bailli) 3.53
ACT TWO
12 Prélude (Orchestre) 1.08
13 Vivat Bacchus – semper vivat ! (Johann/Schmidt) 4.14
14 Trois mois ! Voici trois mois (Albert/Charlotte) 2.24
15 Un autre est son époux ! (Werther/Schmidt/Johann/Albert) 4.51
16 Mais celle qui devint ma femme (Albert/Werther) 2.58
17 Frère, voyez !... Du gai soleil (Sophie) 1.37
18 Heureux ! Pourrai-je l’être encore ? (Werther/Albert/Sophie/Charlotte) 3.26
19 Ah! Qu’il est loin ce jour (Werther/Charlotte) 7.50
20 Lorsque l’enfant revient d’un voyage 3.53
(Werther/Sophie/Charlotte/Albert) |
Compact Disc 2 61.21
ACT THREE
1 Prélude (Orchestra) 3.48
2 Werther! Werther !... Qui m’aurait dit 1.21
3 Ces lettres !... Ces lettres ! (Charlotte) 6.01
4 Bonjour, grande sœur !... Mais souffres-tu ? 1.27
5 Ah! le rire est béni 2.44
6 Les larmes qu’on ne pleure pas (Sophie/Charlotte) 3.33
7 Ah! mon courage m’abandonne ! 3.08
8 Oui, c’est moi ! 5.21
9 Toute mon âme est là !... Pourquoi me réveiller 3.06
10 Ciel! Ai-je compris ? 2.29
11 Ah!... Ah ! Moi ! Moi, dans ces bras ! (Werther/Charlotte) 1.24
12 Soit! adieu donc! (Werther) 1.33
13 Werther est de retour (Albert/Charlotte) 2.45
ACT FOUR
14 Symphonie (Orchestra) 5.46
15 Werther!... Werther!... Rien! (Charlotte/Werther) 5.52
16 Et moi, Werther, et moi, je t’aime ! 7.21
(Charlotte/Werther/Children’s voices/Sophie)
17 Écoute bien ! Là-bas, au fond du cimetière (Werther/Charlotte) 3.03
18 Jésus vient de naître (Children’s voices/Charlotte) 0.34 |
