Werther

The production was the Vienna State Opera debut for the young Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan – the Argentinian tenor Marcelo Álvarez, took the title role. His Charlotte on this occasion was the young Latvian mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča. Her performances have been enthusiastically received and she has already been labelled as the new mezzo wonder. Staged by internationally sought-after Rumanian director, Andrei Serban, the apparently sentimental love story – normally presented in 18th century period costumes - reveals a study of personal relationships and a close observation of a woman, who comes of age too late. Serban’s aim was to rid the opera of the unjustified reputation of banality that clings to it despite its underlying tragic mood. By setting the production in the stiff, claustrophobic atmosphere of a small town in the 1950s, he aimed to make the audience more aware of its deeper levels of self-denial.

• Release date
• November 5, 2005
• Runtime
• 144 min
• Genres
• Music
• Director
• Andrei Serban

Cast

Marcelo Álvarez Werther Elīna Garanča Charlotte

A

Adrian Eröd Albert

I

Ileana Tonca Sophie Alfred Šramek Le Bailli

P

Peter Jelosits Schmidt

M

Markus Pelz Johann

C

Clemens Unterreiner Brühlmann