Werther

opera by Massenet

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July 15, 2026

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The opera Werther by Jules Massenet is based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther. The novel tells the story of a sensitive young poet, Werther, who falls in love with Charlotte, the fiancée of his friend. Unable to reconcile his intense emotions with the realities of the world and facing unrequited love, Werther ultimately commits suicide. Massenet's opera, first produced in 1892, is known for its lyricism and emotional depth, capturing the melancholy and passion of Goethe's original work.123

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opera
Later opera in France
Massenet, including Manon (1884) and Werther (1892; libretto derived from Goethe’s Leiden des jungen Werthers; “The Sorrows of Young Werther”), were phenomenally popular in their day, as was Gustave Charpentier’s Louise (1900; libretto by the composer). The latter has remained in opera house repertories because of its loving, romanticized portrait…
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Massenet, including Manon (1884) and Werther (1892; libretto derived from Goethe’s Leiden des jungen Werthers; “The Sorrows of Young Werther”), were phenomenally popular in their day, as was Gustave Charpentier’s Louise (1900; libretto by the composer). The latter has remained in opera house repertories because of its loving, romanticized portrait…
Read More