[New National Theatre, Tokyo] The joy and pain of love. A dream cast performs the beautiful yet heart-wrenching French opera 'Werther', based on the masterpiece by literary giant Goethe

From the 2016 production of "Werther". Photography by Masahiko Terashi. The New National Theatre, Tokyo (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) will present the gem of a romantic opera, "Werther," starting Sunday, May 24th. This exquisite French opera brings to life the unrequited love of the sensitive young Werther, his yearning, and despair, originally depicted in Goethe's masterpiece "The Sorrows of Young Werther," accompanied by Massenet's uniquely colorful music. Making his highly anticipated New National Theatre debut in the title role of Werther is the world-renowned star tenor, Charles Castronovo! The role of Charlotte will be played by Aya Wakizono, who is currently taking the world's leading opera houses by storm, completing a dream cast. The breathtaking stage design perfectly embodies the world of Goethe's original work. The delicate beauty of nature at the beginning contrasts with the inescapable sense of confinement at the end, where the agony of love is expressed, deeply moving the audience's hearts. Performance Information The joy and pain of love: The beautiful yet unrequited love story of the poet Werther. From the 2016 production of "Werther". Photography by Masahiko Terashi. Massenet's "Werther" is an operatic adaptation of Goethe's masterpiece, "The Sorrows of Young Werther"—a novel so immensely popular that it sparked the social phenomenon known as the "Werther effect." It depicts the unfulfilled romance between the sensitive young man Werther and Charlotte, brought to life through the fresh and vibrant music of the French Romantic composer Jules Massenet. The opera features dramatic arias that are often performed independently at gala concerts, such as Charlotte's "Letter Scene" and Werther's "Ossian's Song (Pourquoi me réveiller, ô souffle du printemps?)." Even among the works of Massenet, who is synonymous with French opera, "Werther" stands alongside "Manon" as one of his most globally performed and beloved masterpieces. Nicolas Joel's production has been highly praised for its beautiful staging, which seems to materialize the world of Goethe's original novel, and its orthodox approach. The delicate beauty of nature in the first act and the inescapable sense of confinement in the final act deeply move the hearts of the audience. From the 2016 production of "Werther". Photography by Masahiko Terashi. A dream co-starring of Castronovo and Aya Wakizono! "Werther" featuring an ensemble of supreme singers. C. Castronovo, Aya Wakizono. In the highly anticipated title role of Werther, world-renowned star lyric tenor Charles Castronovo makes his long-awaited debut at the New National Theatre, Tokyo. Audiences can look forward to the appearance of a star who has captivated spectators worldwide, including at the Metropolitan Opera, with his passionate and sweet performances. Playing Charlotte, who is torn between love and societal norms, is Aya Wakizono, who starred in "La Cenerentola" at La Scala in Milan last year and was also featured in the documentary program "Jounetsu Tairiku." As her momentum and maturity draw global attention, expanding her repertoire from bel canto to dramatic roles, this is a precious opportunity for her to sing French opera—a genre she is currently focusing on—in front of her fans in Tokyo. The role of Charlotte's husband, Albert, will be sung by Shingo Sudo, one of Japan's leading baritones with a grand scale, while Charlotte's sister, Sophie, will be performed by Airi Sunada, a rising soprano making great strides in Italy and Japan. The conductor will be the veteran opera conductor Andriy Yurkevych, who garnered much empathy for his delicate approach in "Eugene Onegin" and "La Traviata." From top left: A. Yurkevych, N. Joel, C. Castronovo, Aya Wakizono, Shingo Sudo, Airi Sunada, Takayuki Ito, Kota Murakami, Toshiaki Komada. Aya Wakizono, playing Charlotte in "Werther" https://www.nntt.jac.go.jp/opera/news/detail/6_031391.html Beautiful, delicate yet majestic: A masterpiece of stage design. From the 2016 production of "Werther". Photography by Masahiko Terashi. The production by maestro Nicolas Joel features beautiful and realistic stage design as a major highlight. Sympathizing with Werther's emotions, the opening scene where he praises nature projects a large tree between the majestic and austere architecture of 18th-century Wetzlar, Germany. Projections are layered over the colors of the stage design, creating a stunning contrast between the profound buildings and the brilliant fresh greenery. The effect of delicately swaying sunlight filtering through the trees enveloping the entire theater will surely astonish the audience. As the acts progress, depicting the changing of seasons from early summer to a snowy Christmas, the stage gradually becomes more confined. Following Charlotte's suffocating room in her distress, the final act takes place in Werther's study, covered with bookshelves reaching the ceiling, serving as his final resting place. From the 2016 production of "Werther". Photography by Masahiko Terashi. From the 2016 production of "Werther". Photography by Masahiko Terashi. The traditional yet elegant and sophisticated art direction eloquently contrasts the Romantic yearning for nature, freedom, and beauty with societal conflicts, evoking deep emotion. It is a stage that is highly recommended even for those interested in art and visual design. <"Werther" Synopsis> From the 2016 production of "Werther". Photography by Masahiko Terashi. The young poet Werther falls in love with Charlotte, but she has a fiancé...