Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

Chief Characters Charlotte, Sophia, Werther, Albert
THE story is adapted from Goethe's novel, the scene being laid in Wetzlar about the middle of the
eighteenth century. Charlotte is the attractive daughter of the chief bailiff of the city; and in the
first act she is seen adorned for a village dance. Before departing for her festivity, however, she
gives the children of the family their evening meal, distributing slices of bread and butter to the
eager little folk who crowd around her. This pretty domestic scene is witnessed by young Werther,
a stranger to the town, who has come to visit the bailiff. Werther is greatly attracted by the pretty
Charlotte, and asks permission to accompany her to the dance, which she grants. After the pair
have departed, the second sister, Sophia, takes charge of the children; and she is presently
interrupted by the entrance of Albert, Charlotte's betrothed, who has just returned from a journey.
Albert is not pleased to hear that Charlotte is absent; but he presently departs. When the pleasureseekers
return, Werther has by this time fallen passionately in love with Charlotte; and on Sophia
announcing to them that Albert has returned, he is full of grief on hearing that his adored one is
betrothed. He begs her to say it is not true; but Charlotte declares that it was the last wish of her
dying mother that she should bestow herself upon Albert, a wish which she intends to carry out,
without considering her own feelings. Werther is terribly cast down by this an-nouncement; but
finding her firm in her resolve he departs sorrowfully. In Act 2 Charlotte is the wife of Albert; and
having made up her mind to drive the disturbing image of Werther from her mind, she is already
living happily enough with her devoted husband. At a festival, however, Werther appears again,
and being received by Albert in a friendly manner he once more has means of being near his
beloved Charlotte. He pays no attention to her sister Sophia, who loves him, and is full of grief on
observing that her passion is hopeless, since Werther only lives for her sister. Charlotte, however,
endeavours to conquer the love which she has before vainly tried to stifle, and so treats her forlorn
lover with coldness; but in Act 3 we find her reading through his many love-letters, whilst her
tears fall fast, and she refuses to be comforted by the sympathetic Sophia, who has no jealousy, but
only grieves for her sister's woe. As she departs, Werther is announced; and seeing Charlotte with
his letters before her he realises that she still loves him in spite of her recent coldness, and he
breaks forth into a passionate appeal for her to respond to his glowing words. This time Charlotte
cannot resist; but as her lover folds her in his arms she quickly conquers her momentary weakness,
and tearing herself from him seeks the safety of her own chamber, whilst the distracted Werther
dashes outside, full of despair. When Albert presently returns, he finds Charlotte greatly disturbed,
and his jealousy is aroused, a knowledge of the unhappy state of affairs having already dawned
upon him; and when a mes-senger appears from the wretched Werther, asking for the loan of his
pistol, the husband sternly commands his wife to hand the weapon to the messenger herself. No
sooner has Albert departed, however, than Charlotte hastens to the abode of Werther only to find
that she has arrived too late, for the unhappy young man has already shot himself, and is dying. At
the sound of his beloved one's cry of distress, however, he recovers sufficiently to entreat her to
kiss him once before he dies; and as she gathers him into a loving embrace he utters a deep sigh of
contentment and happiness, and expires in her arms.
100. JOSEPH IN EGYPT
Opera in Three Acts By Etienne Henri Méhul
Libretto Alexandre Duval