Composer

:

Jules Massenet

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

First Performance

:

1892

Average_duration

:

125:26

Movement_count

:

41

Movement ....

Werther is an opera composed by Jules Massenet, with a libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul Milliet, and Georges Hartmann. The opera is based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's novel The Sorrows of Young Werther. Massenet composed the opera in 1887, and it premiered on February 16, 1892, at the Imperial Theatre Hofoper in Vienna. The opera is set in Germany in the late 18th century and tells the story of Werther, a young poet who falls in love with Charlotte, a woman who is engaged to another man. Werther's love for Charlotte is unrequited, and he becomes increasingly despondent as he realizes that he cannot have her. He eventually takes his own life, unable to bear the pain of his unrequited love. The opera is divided into four acts and features several memorable arias, including Werther's "Pourquoi me réveiller" and Charlotte's "Va! Laisse couler mes larmes." The music is characterized by Massenet's signature lyrical style, with lush orchestration and soaring melodies. Werther was a departure from the grand opera style that was popular in France at the time, and it was initially met with mixed reviews. However, it quickly became popular with audiences and has since become one of Massenet's most beloved works. The opera has been performed in numerous productions around the world, and it has been adapted for film and television. Its enduring popularity is a testament to Massenet's skill as a composer and the timeless appeal of Goethe's tragic tale of unrequited love.

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