Sunday 24 May 2026 | 14:00 |
Tuesday 26 May 2026 | 14:00 |
Thursday 28 May 2026 | 18:00 |
Saturday 30 May 2026 | 14:00 |
Massenet, Jules (1842-1912) | Werther |
New National Theatre | ||
Andriy Yurkevych | Conductor | |
Nicolas Joël | Director | |
Emmanuelle Favre | Set Designer | |
Katia Duflot | Costume Designer | |
Vinicio Cheli | Lighting Designer | |
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra | ||
New National Theatre Chorus | ||
Charles Castronovo | Tenor | Werther |
Aya Wakizono | Mezzo-soprano | Charlotte |
Sunada Airi | Soprano | Sophie |
Shingo Sudo | Baritone | Albert |
Takayuki Ito | Bass | Le Bailli |
Kota Murakami | Tenor | Schmidt |
Toshiaki Komada | Baritone | Johann |
Yu Mizuno | Bass | Brühlmann |
Goethe's classic "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers (The Sorrows of Young Werther)", an eighteenth-century novel depicting the anguish of love and heartbreak, has been read all over the world. Composed over a century after the novel, Jules Massenet's opera Werther adds French romantic passion to Goethe's text, bringing it even closer to the heart. The work has many memorable moments, from the dramatic overture to Charlotte's "Air des lettres" and Werther's soulful aria "Porquoi me réveiller?" The staging by Nicolas JOEL, first seen in 2016, faithfully recreates the atmosphere of the original story and places the focus on Werther's sentiments.
Global star, lyric tenor Charles Castronovo makes his long-awaited debut with the New National Theatre Tokyo in the role of Werther. Aya Wakizono, expanding her repertoire beyond bel canto and gaining international acclaim for incredible expression, appears as Charlotte. Conducted by Andriy Yurkevych, known for his remarkably sensitive approach to creating evocative performances of Eugene Onegin and La Traviata.