Musical History

Question 1

What is Massenet’s first name?

Answer 1

Jules

Question 2

When was Massenet born?

Answer 2

May 12, 1842

Question 3

When did Massenet die?

Answer 3

August 13, 1912

Question 4

How many operas did Massenet complete?

Answer 4

30

Question 5

What is the opera Werther based on?

Answer 5

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 1774 novel Sorrows of a Young Writer. The novel was written as a series of letters from the romantic young Werther to his friend Wilhelm. The letters describe 18 months of his unrequited love for Lotte. This characterization is very different from the opera.

Question 6

When did Massenet write Werther?

Answer 6

1887

Question 7

When and what was Werther written for and when did it premiere?

Answer 7

It was written for Opéra Comique in 1887 but the theater burned down so it premiered in a German translation at the Vienna Hofoper Feb 16, 1892.

Question 8

After the premiere what happened to Werther?

Answer 8

It was successful in Vienna and went to Paris the next year and averaged over 30 performances per season in the first quarter of the twentieth century. It has been performed only sporadically in the US.