I have many recordings of WERTHER in my collection. The present recording was the first I obtained and remains my favourite. De Los Angeles as Charlotte is simply perfect. Her distinctively beautiful voice, with her impeccable diction, purity of tone alone give us a rounded picture of Massenet’ (Goethe’s) heroine torn between duty and love.
Gedda’s hero is poetic and just a little effete, appropriately so I feel.
The top notes ring out.
Many Mesple and Roger Soyer round out this fine cast.