Speranza
Werther {40} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/18/1979.
(Debut: Dennis
Steff
Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
January 18,
1979
WERTHER {40}
Werther.................Alfredo
Kraus
Charlotte...............Régine Crespin
Albert..................Lenus
Carlson
Sophie..................Kathleen
Battle
Bailiff.................Andrew Foldi
Schmidt.................Nico
Castel
Johann..................Andrij
Dobriansky
Käthchen................Barbara
Bystrom
Brühlmann...............Dennis Steff
[Debut]
Conductor...............Richard Bonynge
Review of Robert
Jacobson in Opera News
The run of "Werther" (seen Jan. 18), united
Alfredo Kraus and Régine Crespin as the poet and Charlotte, producing a
performance of exquisite subtlety, poetry and theatrical magic.
Both are
consummate artists, and Kraus' Werther remains one of the incandescent
performances of our time in its simplicity, truth, aristocratic bearing and
innate know-how in "spending" his tenor.
At every moment Kraus gave the
embodiment of the pent-up, tormented romantic hero, while his voice resonated
within its compass, but with no bellowing.
Kraus's is an impersonation of such
magnitude that one regrets he has been away from us so long.
Miss Crespin,
despite some edginess here and there, provided such womanly tone, sensuality,
style and communicative inner anguish that she became Charlotte.
Together in the
haunting "Clair de lune" of Act I they achieved perfection: two sensitive
people, their emotions of love caught at the brink, radiating sadness and
ecstasy.
All around, this "Werther" seemed to soar, with Richard Bonynge's
exquisitely textured conducting, which occasionally blanketed the singers, but
emerged with profound feeling for the score.
Kathleen Battle's engaging
personality and radiantly warm high soprano was ideal for Sophie, while Lenus
Carlson lent his distinctive baritone and stature to Albert.
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