Opera on 3: 4.06.11, 6.00 p.m. - Massenet's "Werther"

[vinteuil]

I think of Adolphe and Dominique quite kindly through the light fog of time but suspect I would find both quite hard going now. Anyone written operas about them?

... 'kindly through the light fog of time' is nice - and probably right for me too: I read them as a pusillanimous introspective youth and no doubt over-identified - and would, yes, find them 'quite hard going now'.

Can't seem them working as operas - the whole point being that 'nothing happens' except to provide material for author and reader for hypersensible introspection - good in a leisurely novel, not 'dramatic' enough for the opera stage.

[mercia]

please forgive this interruption but I feel a bad joke coming on:

are there two versions of Massenet's "Werther"?

and is one of them Werther's Original?

sorry, as you were

[french frank]

not 'dramatic' enough for the opera stage.

Whereas I see that Paul et Virginie (a bit more on the dramatic lines of Manon Lescaut) has had the operatic treatment, from M Le Sueur.

mercia -

(oh, he's scarpered!)

Ps And to say nothing of Murger's Scènes de la vie de Bohème - what a corker!

[Panjandrum]

You'll be delighted to know this exchange has engendered much mirth over here. I suggest we all think carefully before posting comments which could be held up to ridicule.

[french frank]

You'll be delighted to know this exchange has engendered much mirth over here. I suggest we all think carefully before posting comments which could be held up to ridicule.

Au contraire - I suggest we spread as much merriment as we can, as often as we can. Life is short! pw has expressed his reasonable - and informed - response (Msg #25) on this thread already. Much gratitude.

This was the place to start reading.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

please forgive this interruption but I feel a bad joke coming on:

are there two versions of Massenet's "Werther"?

and is one of them Werther's Original?

You may be interested/ amused to know that the covers to the violin scores used at the ROH had an engraving with the title Werther Original at the top! Someone in the pit (or music library) has a sense of humour...