Name: Werther
Start: 1999-01-11T00:00:00.000Z
End: 1999-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Metropolitan Opera House

Organization

Tenor

Thomas Hampson

Werther

Mezzo-soprano

Susan Graham

Charlotte

Ildikó Komlósi

Soprano

Rebecca Evans

Sophie

Joyce Guyer

Baritone

Christopher Robertson

Albert

Christopher Schaldenbrand

Bass

Michel Trempont

The bailiff

Bernard Fitch

Schmidt

James Courtney

Johann

Mitchell Sendrowitz

Bruhlmann

Lee Hamilton

Kathchen

Sandra Bush

Conductor

Donald Runnicles

Stage director

Paul-Émile Deiber

Costume designer

Rudolf Heinrich

Set designer

The Metropolitan Opera

French

New York City

United States

Metropolitan Opera House

Thomas Hampson offers a rare opportunity to hear the baritone version of this opera’s title part, as arranged by Massenet for the legendary Mattia Battistini. Werther’s tragedy, when performed by a baritone rather than a tenor, takes on an even darker hue. Hampson’s moving portrayal brings out all the idealism, melancholy, and eventual despair of the character over the loss of his beloved Charlotte, sung by Susan Graham. Graham gives an equally heart-rending performance as the young woman torn between her love for the romantic Werther and her promise to marry Albert (Christopher Robertson). Rebecca Evans is Charlotte’s innocent younger sister, Sophie, and Donald Runnicles conducts.

Production booklet

Further reading