About performance

Goethe inspired a whole range of artists, as well as operatic composers. That gave rise to a number of popular works, namely by French composers: Mignon by Ambroise Thomas, Faust by Charles Gounod or Werther by Jules Massenet. The Sorrows of Young Werther, a novel constructed of letters, became soon after its publication a cult book: many readers identified with it, some even followed the lead character all t he way to suicide. The oeuvre represents the German ore-Romantic literary movement Sturm und Drang (Storm and Revolt), that highlighted human emotionality as an answer to cold Rationalism of the Enlightenment period. Massenet’s composing style that follows on that of his mentor Thomas and his colleague Gounod, draws attention principally by its rich melodicism and colourful instrumentation modelled on Richard Wagner. Using his impressive musical language he translates the story of emotions which the main characters are unable to fulfil. Werther is making a comeback to the National Theatre in Prague after eighty years – it was last staged there in the period of 1927 – 1939).

Suitable for age: 15+

160 min. (1 intermission)

The first global guest performance shortly after the première in Prague on 7 June 2018. The production by the brilliant European operatic director Willy Decker is brought by the Prague-based ensemble in collaboration with Oper Frankfurt.

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