How the Massenet Uses Contrasting Musical Moods to Portray a Story

Near the end of the Wiener Staatsopera production of Massenet’s Werther, there is a major juxtaposition in the musical moods being portrayed. While Werther is committing suicide and ultimately on the edge of death, you can hear children’s voices in the distance singing Christmas carols.

It starts off with very dark, sad moods as Charlotte has found Werther bloodied and dying. The way Charlotte sings is filled with regret and realization. Her voice is loud, but it also sounds like at any moment her voice could crack and become filled with hysterical tears. I find the mood behind Werther’s singing to be much different from this. He feels sadness for the way things had to end, but ultimately I think he feels confident in his choice to end his life. His voice is deep and humble, and I think the mood he sets with it paints a picture of a man in love who’s story must come to an end. On the other hand, there is the children’s voices in the distance which have an entirely different mood associated with their music than either Charlotte or Werther. This musical mood is pure joy as it is sung by innocent, happy children on what is probably one of the most joyful holidays a child can have.

I think that the one of the points in having this stark contrast in musical moods is to represent the life cycle. Werther is on his deathbed and he has lived a life that he deems full enough to end right in this moment. He can’t bear another thought at staying in this world, so he decides to ultimately die. While this brings about a very depressing, devastating mood that is shown in the gloomy music, it represents something we must all face- the act of birth and death. Although it is very sad that Werther is dying and this is his end, the story being told shows these children who have their own beginnings ahead. They are young, and they will have full lives that have the potential to hold the happiness that is heard in their voices as they sing this Christmas song. But ultimately, they too will die and there will be sadness again, which will be juxtaposed with the happiness of new life that is brought into the world.

I think the children singing the christmas song is also a way to show that this isn’t the end for Werther- that there is redemption for him. He calls the children “angels” and “innocent ones” and I think it solidifies in his last dying moments that he will find peace and happiness when he is gone. They are singing about how happiness is in the air and in a way, this is happy for Werther. He has been suffering for a long time now, feeling his love is not reciprocated, and the juxtaposition of the musical moods gives the audience a chance to recognize that perhaps this isn’t as sad of a moment as we may think. Werther believes this is a new beginning for him, one that won’t be filled with loneliness and suffering, and this new beginning is encompassed by the children’s voices in the distance.

I do believe the children’s cheerful voices singing in the distance is also shedding on light on the fact that this is in no way a happy thing for Charlotte. The way that the children’s voices hold only euphoria and optimism allows the audience to see how deeply this is breaking Charlotte through the stark contrast of it all. During this scene Charlotte has no happiness in her voice, it is longing and sorrowful until the very end and I don’t think the audience could have fully comprehended how awful this is for her, without the juxtaposition of something that is purely good.