Werther

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote the classic The Sorrows of Young Werther in 1774. The young Werther loves Charlotte because he sees a soul mate in her. However, Charlotte is already engaged to Albert. That is why she cannot and does not want to be with Werther. Like a child, Werther has got it into his head that his wish will nevertheless come true. Charlotte is attracted by his tendency to go to extremes, but flees for fear of the consequences. Because his plan does not work out, Werther takes his own life out of despair. The composer Jules Massenet turned Goethe's Werther into a grand opera in 1892. This opera uses stirring music to tell of the state of emergency in which Werther and Charlotte find themselves. In their Werther, director Felix Rothenhäusler and his team bring the singers very close to the audience. Werther and Charlotte circle each other on stage as if in an arena. The interplay between them feels like a chase. Only when Werther is very close to death does Charlotte admit her love.