Goethe

GOETHE

The Sorrows of Young Werther: A Romantic Liederabend

Written by James Melo
Directed by Donald T. Sanders
Costume design by Vanessa James

The impact of Goethe’s masterpiece The Sorrows of Young Werther on the Romantic imagination can be inferred from the fact that Napoleon read the book seven times, and by the wave of suicides it sparked throughout Europe. In this novella, which stands at the birth of the Romantic movement, Goethe traces the inner life of Werther, a quintessential romantic hero who goes mad and commits suicide because of unrequited love. This dramatic love story, which provided a mirror for thousands of forlorn young men by depicting an imagined love life, will be presented in the context of a Liederabend, or evening song recital. Our Liederabend will feature Schumann’s magnificent song cycle Dichterliebe, one of the most compelling musical depictions of unrequited love, interspersed with songs for mezzo-soprano by Schubert, Liszt, Brahms, Hugo Wolf, Mahler, and Pfitzner.

Kathleen Flynn, mezzo- soprano
Randall Scarlata, baritone
Eve Wolf,piano
Max Barros, piano

Simon Fortin as Werther

Steinway Hall, 109 West 57th Street
Sat Nov 10, 5:30 pm

The hall seats only 75 people; priority will be given to subscribers and patrons.

[purchase tickets]

Seminar

Imagining Love: Goethe’s “Werther” and the Dramas of Romanticism
Thu Nov 1, 5:30  - 7:30 pm
CUNY Graduate Center, room C204-205
Buy tickets at the door. $10 (free for series subscribers, patrons, and CUNY students, faculty, and staff)

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