Werther

This opera offers many delightful moments but is not suited to occasional visitors to the Joan Sutherland Theatre eager to drink in familiar tunes, as there are none.

The score by Massenet is sumptuous, and under the baton of Carlo Montanaro the orchestra provides a magnificent platform for the spectacular international leads, Michael Fabiano as Werther and Elena Maximova as Charlotte.

Over three hours and four acts the drama moves slowly. Werther falls in love with Charlotte. She is engaged to someone else. She gets married. Werther tries to win her back.

After a long day at work it is a beautiful way to dose off, as a number of people in my row did during the first few acts.

Aficionados, though, will enjoy seeing this work, considered one of the French classics. Massenet famously memorized the whole libretto before meticulously crafting the score around the words with poetic intensity.

Opera Australia revived the production originally directed by Elijah Moshinsky and co-directed this time by Constantine Costi.

The cast wear modern clothes which have been updated every time the opera has been revived.

There is an elegant revolve as the scenes pass between the seasons of Summer, Autumn and Winter as the drama moves between an Inn, a Church and a Dinner Party, then an apartment.

A rousing ovation on opening night was well deserved.

David Spicer

Images (top): Ensemble and (lower) Michael Fabiano as Werther and Elena Maximova as Charlotte in Opera Australia's 2019 production of Werther at the Sydney Opera House. Photographer: Prudence Upton.