Werther

photograph by Robert Kusel
Lyric Opera of Chicago

I was looking forward to this because I read the book by Goethe somewhat recently and did not even know the book had turned into an opera at some point. In the lecture at the beginning of the opera, the lecturer mentioned the opera is lamentably rather seldom performed.

Werther does share a trait with Lyric's opening night opera, Elektra: impressive music but a story line with one single, massive arch and very little subplot or distraction from a central theme. It is this trait that keeps these both out of the all-time opera A List, those operas that reappear in a three or four year rotation. Werther will never be Carmen, and yet it is lovely all the same.

I hate to champion San Francisco again, since I've only seen two operas there - however, Werther was a co-production with San Francisco and it was the best thing I have seen at Lyric in awhile. It was just...what is the word...cleaner. It was more refined, or maybe even just more modern.

So, the music was the star. But, the lovely sets only enhanced the evening, almost (just almost) to the verge of overshadowing the simplicity of the story and the beautiful, straight-forward nature of the music. The physical setup of the stage was perfect. About five feet off the ground was the action in Charlotte's homes. And, then on the left, at stage level was Werther's small apartment, nearly cut into the elevated stage. It perfectly symbolized the character's interactions and the part he played in Charlotte's life: inserted, a sidebar, small and slightly irrelevant yet present.

I plan on getting a CD of Werther, but I like French music. It was lovely and in this production the leads were very nice, no complaints.

All in all, I'd recommend it. It's so simple and straight-forward, it doesn't take much to quickly write about it.