Werther

Story

Synopsis

One of opera’s greatest depictions of impossible love, Werther is based on Goethe’s epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther. Massenet thought long and hard about adapting Goethe’s story of a melancholy poet whose love for a married woman and general disaffection with the world lead to his suicide. Initially declined Opéra Comique, Werther had its premiere in Vienna in 1892. The portrayal of an artistic, brilliant and doomed young man rebelling against the establishment has resonated through the ages in music, literature, theatre and film. Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb’s new production is in safe and cinematic hands: Pier Giorgio Morandi, chief conductor Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, and the stage director, set and costume designer is Dante Ferretti. With Oscars to his credit, Ferretti has worked with some of the greatest names in cinema including Pasolini, Fellini, Zeffirelli, Scorsese to name just a few.

Director

Dante Ferretti

Writers

Paul Milliet, Edouard Blau, Georges Hartmann

Language

French

Release date

3 May 2025

Ensemble

Cast

• Pavel Valuzhin

  Werther

• Emilia Rukavina

  Charlotte

• Ozren Bilušić

  Commander

• Marija Kuhar Šoša

  Sophie

• Leon Košavić

  Albert

• Ivo Gamulin

  Schmidt

• Marin Čargo

  Johann