Lyrical drama in 4 acts

Libretto by Blau, Milliet and Hartmann
after "The young Werther's sufferings" by Goethe.

MUSIC: Jules Massenet

Conductor: Yves Abel
Directed by Liliana Cavani
Scenes by Dante Ferretti
Costumes by Gabriella Pescucci

Werther: Andrea Bocelli
Albert: Natale De Carolis
Le Bailli: Giorgio Giuseppini
Schmidt: Pierre Lefebvre
Johann: Armando Ariostini
Bruhlmann: Vittorio Prato
Charlotte: JuliaGertseva
Sophie: Magali Leger
Katchen: Diana Bertini

January 2004
Thu 22, Sun 25, Tue 27, Thu 29
Teatro Comunale Bologna (Italy)

Informations:
www.comunalebologna.it

Click here to view rehearsal photos

SYNOPSIS

ACT I

The curtain rises on the garden of the Magistrate's house.The widowed Magistrate is seated on the terrace with six of his young children around him. They are singing a Christmas song and he jovially rebukes their poor performance by saying they wouldn't sing so badly if their elder sister Charlotte were there. The Magistrate's friends Schmidt and Johann, look in and remind him to join them later for a social evening. Sophie, Charlotte's fifteen-year-old sister, comes in and they talk of Werther, a rather melancholy young man intended for a diplomatic career, and of Albert, who will make a good husband for Charlotte. Everyone goes off into the house leaving the stage empty. Werther appears and, standing to one side, reflects on the summer evening atmosphere of the picturesque village. Charlotte, returns accompanied by the Magistrate and the children. Her partner is late, so she takes advantage of the delay to cut bread and butter for the children. The Magistrate hails the arrival of various guests and presents Werther to the twenty-year-old Charlotte. Werther is touched by the scene of contented domesticity and goes off with Charlotte to the ball. Night is falling and everyone has left except for Sophie. She too, is about to go when she is detained by the unexpected arrival of Albert, Charlotte's betrothed, who has been away for six months. They talk happily of the future when he will be Charlotte's husband. Albert sings of Charlotte's love for him. The garden now is filled with moonlight. Werther and Charlotte return from the ball in sentimental mood. She recalls the memory of her mother and speaks affectionately of her brothers and sisters. Werther praises her devotion and her beauty. He is moved to declare his love for her whereupon the Magistrate calls from the house that Albert has returned. The spell is broken. Werther, learning that Albert is the man chosen by Charlotte's mother as her daughter's future husband, cries in anguish "Un autre, son époux !"

ACT II

A sunday afternoon in the following Autumn. Schmidt and Johann sit outside the local tavern watching the faithful entering the nearby church to celebrate the village pastor's golden wedding. Charlotte and Albert, man and wife now for the past three months, appear arm-in-arm and tell of their contented life together. They too, go into the church. Werther has watched them from afar and bitterly regrets that he has lost Charlotte.Albert emerges from the church. He intuitively understands the cause of Werther's distress and sympathises with his feelings. Werther, impressed by this gesture, replies that he will be loyal to them both. Sophie joins in the conversation with her characteristic gaiety. Werther remains alone on stage. When Charlotte comes out of the church he cannot prevent himself from speaking again of his love for her, and, to the "clair de lune" motif, he nostalgically remembers their first meeting. Charlotte warns him that she belongs to another. He must, she adds, try to forget. Go away, she tells him, and do not return until Christmas. Alone once again, he gives way anew to despair. Sophie's invitation to join in the golden wedding celebrations is brusquely rejected. He leaves her in tears with the remark that he will never return. When she passes on the news, Albert realises it is obvious that Werther still loves his wife.

ACT III

It is Christmas Eve in the drawing-room of Albert's house. Charlotte thinks of Werther and re-reads his letters to her. She knows now that, despite herself, she loves him as much as ever. Sophie enters. Even her sister's innocent optimism is unable to cheer her sombre mood.She gives way to an overpowering emotion. Her heart is torn by the conflict between love for Werther and her moral principles. Werther himself suddenly appears, pale and desolate. He has returned at the appointed time, but his period of absence has done nothing to quell his ardour. Together they evoke tender memories of the harpsichord to which they sang and the books they used to read, especially the romantic ballads of Ossian which inspire Werther to meditate on the tragedy of love. But Charlotte, making a supreme effort, forces herself to reject him and flies from the room. Werther is left without hope. Albert returns and is puzzled by Charlotte's obvious agitation. A servant hands him a letter from Werther asking if he may borrow Albert's pistols as he is about to go on a long journey. The pistols are duly dispatched. The sinister meaning of the note dawns on Charlotte, and once Albert has gone she seizes her coat and rushes off to find Werther.

ACT IV

This act follows without a break and is linked to act III by an orchestral interlude. Charlotte arrives in Werther's study to find him mortally wounded and lying on the floor. He asks her forgiveness, though she, driven by remorse, claims that she is the one who needs to be forgiven. He warns her not to call for help : he will be happy to die avowing his adoration to her. She confesses that she has loved him since the day they first met. She sees now that it is her fault that she has lost him. She returns his kiss. As the distant sound of children singing the Christmas carol from act I floats through the window, a distraught Charlotte realises that the man she loved is dead.