Werther live webcast from Minnesota Opera starring James Valenti on Feb 5th 2012

Jan 26, 2012 by admin

We are happy to announce our first live webcast of  2012 – Werther starring  James Valenti and Roxana Constantinescu airing February 5 at 2PM CT(8PM GMT)
Minnesota Opera announces it will webcast its new production of Massenet’s Werther on Sunday, February 5, at 2pm. This project, in collaboration with SoundQue and Opera Music Broadcast.com, will further the company’s efforts to expand accessibility to the operatic art form and exposure to Minnesota Opera’s artistic excellence.

The webcast will be offered worldwide free of charge, removing barriers of price and location. NEED HELP? CLICK THIS LINK

Using an iDevice? Use the link to the left. PC users video displays below

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Werther
music by Jules Massenet
libretto by Édouard Blau,
Paul Milliet and Georges Hartmann
based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s
Die Leiden des jungen Werthers (1774)
world premiere
Hofoper, Vienna February 16, 1892
sung in French with English translations
Creative Team Minnesota Opera
conductor	Christoph Campestrini
stage director	Kevin Newbury
set designer	Allen Moyer
costume designer	Jessica Jahn
lighting designer	D. M. Wood
The Cast	webcast only
Werther, a poet	James Valenti
Charlotte	Roxana Constantinescu
Albert, her betrothed	Gabriel Preisser
Sophie, Charlotte’s sister	Angela Mortellaro
Le Bailli, Charlotte’s father	Joseph Beutel
Schmidt, his friend	John Robert Lindsey
Johann, his friend	Rodolfo Nieto
Brühlmann, a young man	Mark Thomas
Käthchen, a young woman	Alison Schardin
the Bailli’s children, villagers, guests,
servants

Synopsis
Time: July to December 1780.
Place: Wetzlar.
Act 1

The widowed Bailiff teaches his younger children a Christmas carol in July. Charlotte dresses for a ball. Since her intended, Albert, is away, she is escorted by Werther whom they find gloomy. Werther arrives and watches as Charlotte prepares her young siblings’ supper, just as her mother had before she died. Werther greets Charlotte and they leave for the ball. Albert returns unexpectedly after a six month trip. He is unsure of Charlotte’s intentions and disappointed not to find her here, but is reassured and consoled by Sophie. He leaves after promising to return in the morning. Werther and Charlotte return very late, and he is already enamoured of her. His declaration of love is interrupted by the announcement of Albert’s return. Charlotte recalls how she promised her dying mother she would marry Albert. Werther despairs.

Act 2

It is three months later, and Charlotte and Albert are now married. They walk happily to church, pursued by the gloomy Werther. Sophie tries to cheer him up. When Charlotte exits the church, he speaks to her of their first meeting. Charlotte begs Werther not to try to see her again until Christmas Day. Werther contemplates suicide. Charlotte comforts the tearful girl who does not understand his cruel behavior. Albert now realizes that Werther loves Charlotte.

Act 3

Charlotte is at home alone on Christmas Eve. She spends time rereading Werther’s letters to herself, wondering how the young poet is and how she had the strength to send him away. Suddenly Werther appears, and while he reads her poetry, he realizes that she returns his love. They embrace for a moment, but she quickly bids him farewell. He leaves with thoughts of suicide. Albert returns home to find his distraught wife. Werther has sent a message to Albert requesting to borrow his pistols, explaining he is going on an extended trip. A servant is sent to deliver the pistols. Charlotte has a terrible premonition and hurries to find Werther. (Acts 3 and 4 are usually played without a break.)

Act 4

At Werther’s apartment, Charlotte has arrived too late. Werther is dying. She consoles him by declaring her love. He asks for forgiveness. After he dies, Charlotte faints. Outside children are heard singing a Christmas carol.

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For the last three years, Minnesota Opera has made new media a priority, working with those at the vanguard
of the fast-changing field of digital distribution for opera. This project is an opportunity for Minnesota
Opera to become the first major American opera company to webcast its works through this
emerging distribution channel. Thanks to major funding provided by the St. Paul Cultural star Program,
Minnesota Opera’s production ofWerther has the potential to reach exponentially greater audience
members than it could in its one-week engagement on the Ordway stage.

Minnesota Opera’s partner on this project, Michigan-based production firm SoundQue, brings its vast experience of webcasting a wide variety of live events. This event will include support for iDevices and most major smartphones.

Given the existing audience for performing arts webcasts on Opera Music Broadcast, as well as the international appeal of Werther stars tenor James Valenti and mezzo-soprano Roxana Constantinescu, Minnesota Opera anticipates drawing a large and diverse online audience that SoundQue estimates could approach 100,000 viewers. “This Werther webcast will likely provide the first experience of opera for many,” said Minnesota Opera President and General Director Allan Naplan. “Harnessing this technology, Minnesota Opera can not only efficiently reach a much broader audience than it can during a standard run onstage, but the webcast will showcase the high quality of the organization’s productions, igniting a greater interest in Minnesota Opera and the art form in general.”

The Minnesota Opera’s mission is to produce opera and opera education programs at the highest artistic level that inspire and entertain our audiences and enrich the cultural life of our community.