Werther

Massenet's music to the story did not move me, but rather I found certain scenes boring, and feeling awkwardness to the plot. How Charlotte turned to love Werther was such a mystery. The love letters, the gun, all appeared in a sudden.

(OK, KL, I am saying the same thing again) In my opinion the tenor was singing like a Don Jose rather than Werther the poet. He was already singing with huge dramaticity in act 1 & 2, so much that I just sensed he has much more anger than romance or sadness. His timbre was not that entirely lyrical and smooth, but rather broken in some places. Pourquoi me reveiller was mediocre; he was stiff on the Bbs.

Annie Vavrille's Charlotte was gleaming. Her husband Albert was portraying fine.

It is the first time I heard such sweetiness in Yuki (Sophia)'s singing. Probably Natalie Choquette's master class helped her in a very good way. Other roles were all suitable.

Macau orchestra had a scary start in the prelude. It was better in latter acts, but still the sound was thin.

The set had the idea from films that it began with how the last scene finally ended. I rather like the opening effect, i.e. the door set falling down and its shadow coming up (and I was in the circle). There was nothing too special in act 2 or 3 however.