Antonio Pappano leads a sensuous and dramatically taut reading of Werther on EMI's reissue of its 1999 all-star release. Werther is one of the most intimate and interior of operas, and
Pappano successfully captures the mood of the protagonist's turmoil that constitutes its real drama. The leads are in strong voice and make dramatic impressions as the victims of passion in whose face they feel helpless.
Roberto Alagna's Werther is consumed with love and anguish, and he sings with ringing, heroic tone.
Angela Gheorghiu's Charlotte is capable of expressing the fire that finally ignites in the third act, and her tone is pure and true, but she sounds a little mature for a 20 year old, and misses the girlishness that makes Charlotte's predicament so poignant. In Werther's death scene, both are hugely moving.
Thomas Hampson's voice is rich and dark, and he ably conveys the complexity of Albert's emotions. In a bit of luxury casting,
Patricia Petibon sparkles as the adolescent Sophie. The smaller roles are well taken, and the singers make the most of their vignettes. The
London Symphony responds with sensitivity to
Pappano's fluid tempi and plays with gorgeous tone. EMI's sound is ideal and realistically present, with excellent balance.