Werther
A famous production by Willy Decker
Basic information
The National Theatre
Approximate running time2 hours 35 minutes, 1 intermission (20 minutes) minutes
LanguageIn French, surtitles in Czech, English
PremiereJune 7, 2018
J. W. Goethe’s poetry and prose have inspired numerous artists, including opera composers. The most accomplished adaptations of his works include French operas: Ambroise Thomas’s Mignon, Charles Gounod’s Faust and Jules Massenet’s Werther.
Cast
- 2024-2025
Creatives
About
National Theatre Orchestra
Members of the Prague Philharmonic Children's Choir, Choir master Jiří Chvála
Soon after its publication, Goethe’s 1774 epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther became a cult book, one in which the readers recognised themselves, with a number of them even taking the hero’s example and committing suicide. The work is a seminal text of the German proto-Romantic literary movement known as Sturm und Drang, whose adherents placed emphasis on human emotionality as the answer to the cool rationalism of the era of the Enlightenment. Linking up to his teacher Thomas and his colleague Gounod, Massenet’s compositional style is primarily noted for abundant distinct melody and colourful orchestration, inspired in part by Richard Wagner.
His suggestible musical idiom serves to underline a story replete with passions, which the protagonists fail to satisfy. Massenet’s Werther, one of the most acclaimed French operas, is returning to the National Theatre in Prague almost 80 years after the previous production, performed from 1927 to 1939.
The original premiere of the production took place on 14 January 1996 at the Het Muziektheater (Nederlandse Opera) in Amsterdam.
Photo: Hana Smejkalová and Patrik Borecký
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Practical information
Where to buy tickets
The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance. We are currently selling tickets for performances of Drama, Ballet, Opera and Laterna magika taking place in November 2024 – April 2025.
When purchasing online, you can get an e-ticket. You can pick up printed tickets in person at the box offices of the National Theatre.
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What to wear?
By their appearance, attire and behaviour, the audience is obliged to adhere to the accustomed practice expected from them when attending a theatre performance.
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