Ovations after the premiere of opera WertherOpera — 02. March 2025.
Jules Massenetꞌs opera Werther directed by Oscar laureate Dante Ferretti had its premiere on February 28, 2025, with Pier Giorgio Morandi the chief conductor of the Opera of the CNT as the music director of the production. The audience greatly applauded and awarded this impressive opera performance with ovations.
Werther is an opera version of the literary classic of the epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther that Massenet composed under the influence of Wagner's opera drama. Film direction and excellent performance of this opera that was not on the repertoire of the Zagreb theatre for more than two decades brings Werther's sorrows more closely to the new, younger spectators. The director focused on the creation of everyday, vivid events enriched with the presence of extras on the stage who move about in a natural manner, as if they are shooting a movie scene.
In Werther, the orchestra does not serve as accompaniment to the soloists but has a dominant role in the opera. With its beautiful melodies and other symphonic parts, it depicts emotions and psychological dramas of all the characters, said Morandi.
The lighting designer was Daniele Nannuzzi and the lighting was adapted by Dragan Micić. The choirmaster was Luka Vukšić, and assistant conductor was Andreas Gies. Assistant stage director was Fred Santambrogio while assistant costume designers were Elena Pirino and Ana Trišler. The language counsellor was Jelena Knešaurek Carić. The children`s choir Zvjezdice was led by Dijana Rogulja Deltin and Marija Anđela Biondić.
At the opening night Pavel Valuzhin was casted for Werther, Emilla Rukavina was Charlotte, Ozren Bilušić sung the role of the Commander, Marija Kuhar Šoša was Sophie, Leon Košavić was Albert, Ivo Gamulin was Schmidt and Marin Čargo was in the role of Johann.
