Werther
Werther's music counts as some of the most gorgeously romantic ever written.
See our critically acclaimed new production of Werther in live recording of 22 March 2019:
"Pure pleasure" - Klassisk Musikk
"Warmly recommended" - Bergensavisen
"An elegant and floating production" - Bergens Tidende
While Massenet´s great opera ends in tragedy, the music must count as some of the most gorgeously romantic ever written. After a charming first scene where the Mayor and his children are rehearsing a Christmas carol, Werther appears.
A highly idealistic young man, he is charged with taking Charlotte, the eldest daughter to a ball, in the absence of her fiancée Albert. He is entranced; Charlotte is susceptible. Re-appearing after the marriage, Werther is consumed with passion, and Charlotte is deeply affected. The opera continues to its dramatic end, suffused with heart-rending arias, tension and drama.
Based on a Goethe story around an actual event – a passionate ilicit love for a married woman – BNO´s new production is directed and designed by the acclaimed Antony McDonald. The Lithuanian tenor Edgaras Montvidas sings the title role of Werther, a role regarded as one of the most poetic and expressive tenor roles in the French repertoire. Montvidas was in 2009 awarded the prestigeous Theatre Award ‘The Gold Cross of the Stage’ for his sensitive interpretation of the tragic poet. Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 competition winner Catriona Morison makes her Scandinavian debut as Charlotte.
"Who can sing Werther after Jonas Kaufmann and Diego Flórez? Edgaras Montvidas. The Lithuanian's sensitive interpretation of Goethe's tragic-romantic hero is carried out to perfection" - Diapason Magazine (May 2018)
"Edgaras Montvidas 'is' Werther" - Le Figaro (2018)
A new production by Bergen National Opera
Presented by Bergen National Opera and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Hear Edgaras Montvidas sing Werther's aria in concert with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra:
Hear Catriona Morison sing Werther! Qui m'aurait dit /Ces lettres! during BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition 2017, which she won.
Related news
![Werther Dies](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bnobucket/images/Program/2019/Werther/_840xAUTO_crop_top-center_100_none/Werther-dies.jpg)
Video: Werther by Massenet
Werther's music counts as some of the most gorgeously romantic ever written. Here you can see the live recording from 22 March 2019, with Edgaras Montvidas and Catriona Morison as Werther and Charlotte.
"Pure pleasure" - Klassisk Musikk
"Warmly recommended" - Bergensavisen
"An elegant and floating production" - Bergens Tidende
![Sing along](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bnobucket/images/BLOGG/2019/_840xAUTO_crop_top-center_100_none/singingdog_nett.jpg)
How to make misery interesting
I´ve just been down in the rehearsal room where Massenet´s hero Werther has been dying since 10:00 this morning. The atmosphere is brisk and deeply practical.
![Werther Nett](https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/bnobucket/images/Program/2019/Werther/_840xAUTO_crop_top-center_100_none/Werther_nett.jpg)
What happens in Werther?
The deeply passionate young idealist and poet Werther meets an inexperienced young woman who is bound to her family by duty. She is engaged to Albert – decent, hard-working and steady – and she has promised her late mother to marry him. Werther becomes obsessed, and Charlotte begins a journey of self-discovery.
Contributors
![Frederic Chaslin](/imager/images/People/Werther/3441/Werther_Chasin_BW_square_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Frédéric Chaslin
Conductor
![Antony Mc Donald Square Nett](/imager/images/People/Werther/2572/AntonyMcDonald_Square_Nett_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Antony McDonald
Stage director and set designer
![Carter Lucy Nett](/imager/images/People/Werther/2600/Carter-Lucy-Nett_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Lucy Carter
Lighting designer
![Lucy Burge Web](/imager/images/People/Werther/3004/Lucy_burge_web_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Lucy Burge
Movement director
![Håkon Matti Skrede](/imager/images/People/Papirpose-Prinsesser/1805/HM_Skrede_nett_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Håkon Matti Skrede
Chorus Master
![Edgaras Montvidas Square Nett](/imager/images/People/Werther/2575/Edgaras-Montvidas_Square_nett_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Edgaras Montvidas
Werther
![Cmorison Square Nett](/imager/images/People/Werther/2574/CMorison_Square_Nett_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Catriona Morison
Charlotte
![Hanna Husahr 3222](/imager/images/People/Peter-Grimes/1061/Hanna-Husahr_3222_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Hanna Husáhr
Sophie
![Timothy Mix Bw Nett](/imager/images/People/Werther/2764/Timothy_Mix_BW_nett_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Tim Mix
Albert
![Mischa Schelomianski Square Nett](/imager/images/People/Werther/2580/Mischa-Schelomianski_Square_Nett_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Mischa Schelomianski
The Bailiff
![Dmitruk Vladimir](/imager/images/People/Werther/3668/Dmitruk_Vladimir_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Vladimir Dmitruk
Schmidt
![Igor Gnidii](/imager/images/2844/igor_gnidii_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Igor Gnidii
Johann
![Elizaveta Agrafenina Bw](/imager/images/People/Werther/3501/Elizaveta_Agrafenina_BW_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Elizaveta Agrafenina
Käthchen
![Einar Stefansson](/imager/images/3497/Einar_Stefansson_square_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Einar Stefánsson
Brühlmann
![Harmonien Square Nett](/imager/images/People/Andre/5511/Harmonien-square-nett_b52aeff1da97c6da6d7956e791a586c1.jpg)
Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester
Orchestra
Selected dates
Grieghallen Free entrance Free entrance
Grieghallen Free entrance Free entrance
Grieghallen Free entrance Free entrance
Grieghallen Free entrance Free entrance