Organization

Conductor

Robert Spano

Stage director

Benoît Jacquot

Set designer

Charles Edwards

Lighting designer

Costume designer

Christian Gasc

Singer

Tenor

Matthew Polenzani

Werther

Mezzo-soprano

Isabel Leonard

Charlotte

Baritone

Sean Michael Plumb

Albert

Soprano

Jasmine Habersham

Sophie

Bass

Patrick Carfizzi

The bailiff

Ricardo Garcia

Schmidt

Cory McGee

Johann

Emily Treigle

Kathchen

Luke Sutliff

Bruhlmann

Associate Light Designer

Michael James Clark

Associate Director

Geneviève Dufour

Stage combat master

Adam Noble

Royal Opera House

Houston Grand Opera

Others

Houston Grand Opera Children's Chorus

Houston Grand Opera Chorus

Orchestra

Houston Grand Opera Orchestra

Associate & Cover Conductor

Alex Amsel

French

Houston

United States

Wortham Theater Center

Brown Theater

Werther Massenet

Public

Private

English

Approved

The lovesick yearnings of the tortured young poet Werther lead to his tragic fate in Massenet’s lush opera, which returns to HGO for the first time in 40 years with this production from French director Benoît Jacquot, making his HGO debut. After Werther escorts the lovely Charlotte to a ball, he falls hopelessly in love with her, but she is engaged to Albert, with no intention of breaking things off. Unable to conceive of life without her, Werther grows ever more despondent as he continues his attempts to woo the object of his affections, who doesn’t love him back—or does she? Matthew Polenzani, one of the world’s most distinguished tenors, leads the cast as Werther in his long-anticipated Houston debut. With mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, an international star and winner of three Grammy awards, debuting alongside, and world-renowned conductor Robert Spano taking the podium, audiences won’t want to miss this chance to see a cast of legends perform a rare psychological drama.

Werther by Massenet, From (2023/2023), Directed by Benoît Jacquot,, Conductor Robert Spano, Wortham Theater Center, Houston, United States

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Co-Producer

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues