NON MI RIDESTAR -- Corelli

Speranza

Werther {28} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/1/1972.

(Review)


Metropolitan Opera House
February 1, 1972


WERTHER {28}
Massenet-É. Blau/Milliet/G. Hartmann

Werther.................Franco Corelli
Charlotte...............Régine Crespin
Albert..................John Reardon
Sophie..................Colette Boky
Bailiff.................Donald Gramm
Schmidt.................Nico Castel
Johann..................Richard Best
Käthchen................Lorraine Keane
Brühlmann...............Lou Marcella

Conductor...............Alain Lombard

Production..............Paul-Emile Deiber
Designer................Rudolf Heinrich

Werther received seven performances this season.

Review of Raymond Ericson in The New York Times

CRESPIN STYLE ADDS TO 'WERTHER' APPEAL

Massenet's "Werther" is a profound work.

Yet its total charm is not given away on first hearing.

It deserves enough repetition to let its considerable felicities make an impact.

The Metropolitan Opera gave it a new production last winter and, despite its lack of popularity, it has wisely kept it in the repertory this season.

It returned Tuesday night, its appeal strengthened by a knowledgeable cast and conductor.

Régine Crespin's Charlotte, mature in appearance and somewhat edgy in sound, had so much style, was so exquisitely inflected in the singing, as to set a standard for the rest of the performance.

It was met handily by the upstanding Albert of John Reardon, the paternal Bailiff of Donald Gramm and the Sophie of Colette Boky.

The soprano was new here in the part, but she looked delightfully girlish and sang most engagingly.

Franco Corelli is not much of a vocal stylist, yet when the Corelli sound coincided with the most impassioned of Massenet's scenes, the effect was exciting.

One admires at least, Corelli's efforts to act the part of the sorrowing, suicidal Werther.

Alain Lombard conducted, at times too strenuously, but in general with taste and sensitivity.