Werther: Act III ‘"Pourquoi me réveiller?" - Jules Massenet

Werther: Act III ‘"Pourquoi me réveiller?" by Jules Massenet

French composer Jules Massenet completed the opera “Werther” in 1887, with the premiere performance being given in 1892 at the Hofoper in Vienna. The opera is based on the novel “The Sorrows of Young Wether” by German poet Johann Goethe. The original story by Goethe is in the form of several letters written by the fictional author named ‘Werther’ to his friend Wilhelm. The letters focus on the unrequited love that Werther has for a woman called Charlotte. Despite the suggestion that Charlotte feels a similar passion for Werther, she is already engaged to a man named Albert.

After much anguish, Werther realises that his love for Charlotte can never be, but will also never abate, leaving him with the only choice of suicide. The final chapter of the book details the funeral of Werther, to which no one attends, even Charlotte.

The premiere in Vienna was in German despite the original libretto being written in French. The aria “Pourquoi me réveiller” is performed in act III of the opera.