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Werther
베르테르
Official English Title
Other Titles: The Sorrows of Young Werther; 젊은 베르테르의 슬픔
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SOURCE
novel
SETTING
Foreign
BOOK
adaptation
Based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther
Korean Premiere
2000
Korean Premiere Theatre
Doosan Art Center Yonkang Hall, Seoul
Further Korean run reference:
https://namu.wiki/w/%EB%B2%A0%EB%A5%B4%ED%85%8C%EB%A5%B4(%EB%AE%A4%EC%A7%80%EC%BB%AC)
https://www.themusical.co.kr/Musical/Detail?num=2238
The Musical search cue — “베르테르 뮤지컬”
Summary
Inspired by Goethe’s novel, this musical follows Werther’s consuming love for Charlotte and the emotional ruin caused by impossible devotion.
Origin & Development
2000, script and lyrics by Ko Sunwoong, music by Kim Sungsoo, directed by Cho Kwanghwa, premiered at C Art Hall, Seoul. Adapted from Goethe’s 1774 novel and developed as a chamber-scale musical emphasizing emotional narration, a piano-based score, and literary monologues. From its 2000 premiere through 2012, the musical retained the novel’s Korean title, The Sorrows of Young Werther (젊은 베르테르의 슬픔), before being retitled Werther (베르테르) in 2013. It became one of the most frequently revived Korean original musicals of the 2000s.
Partial Synopsis
Werther, a sensitive young artist, falls in love with Lotte, only to learn she is already engaged to Albert. His passion grows into obsession as he struggles between reason, desire, and despair. Lotte’s kindness keeps hope alive, but her loyalty to Albert deepens Werther’s internal conflict, leading to a tragic end. The musical foregrounds inner psychology and poetic language over spectacle, highlighting the pain of unattainable love.
ヴェルテルの恋
2013
2013-01-11
to
2013-01-26
Country:
Japan
City:
Tokyo
Production Type:
Licensed
Language:
Korean
Venue:
Akasaka ACT Theater
Performed by the original Korean cast, with Kim Da-hyun and Jeon Dong-suk alternating as Werther, in Korean with Japanese surtitles. It was promoted as the first full Japanese staging of a major Korean literary musical.
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