MASSENET, Jules

Werther

"Pourquoi me réveiller"

Joyce DiDonato, guest professor

Daniel Domínguez Quintero, student

Natalia Kuchaeva, accompanying pianist

After the student sings Werther's aria, DiDonato congratulates him and explains that tragedy is expressed differently depending on the language. It is challenging to avoid conveying drama "in the Italian way" and instead achieve a more "French" approach. It is essential to follow Massenet's indications, as he articulated everything meticulously and composed in an academic manner, specifying in detail how he wanted his music to be sung. Unlike Händel, for example, he left little room for interpretation, so the key is to find the right balance - conveying emotion without becoming overly sentimental.
To achieve this, proper use of the language while singing is crucial. French is quite nasal; while the student has no issues with the high notes, for the lower register, the professor suggests aiming for a warmer, rounder sound - allowing the air to flow naturally rather than pushing the voice.
They go back to the beginning and work on pronunciation, legato, and phrasing according to the precise markings in the score, avoiding dynamic changes or accents that are not written. The goal is always to respect the language and text as much as possible to achieve the most appropriate character at all times.

Language: English