Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1545888
On Aug. 14, we return to established literature with the Jules Massenet's opera Werther, an opera based on the viral epistolary novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the pinnacle of the Sturm und Drang period, e Sorrows of Young Werther. is novel launched Goethe's literary career as it made him the rst superstar of Western Civilization. Unfortunately, his novel had another impact on the late 1700s — a fearful series of copy-cat suicides, called "Werther Fever," of mostly young men, but of young women as well. e young people were found to have shot themselves while dressed as either Werther or Charlotte and with a copy of Goethe's novel in a pocket. To stem the tragedies, some German cities banned the sale of clothing that matched Werther's. e protagonist, Wilhelm Albert Werther, was a poet who fell in love with a young woman, Charlotte, who had promised to marry a man of her dead mother's choosing. She falls in love with Werther, however, just before Albert, the man in question, returns aer a business absence. Albert and Charlotte do marry but Werther remains nearby and in their social circle. It was untenable and he tried to stay away, with limited success. Werther understands that the love triangle must end in death and he cannot commit murder. e story ends when Werther borrows Albert's pistols under a false premise and shoots himself. Our production features the most sought-aer tenor of the current era, the German-Austrian Jonas Kaufmann and the French mezzo-soprano Sophie Koch. It was lmed in 2010 at the Paris Opera Bastille. Kaufmann and Koch awlessly portray Massenet's characters. On Aug. 21, we present another art lm, the 1998 Oscar winner for Best Score, e Red Violin, featuring Samuel L. Jackson. e protagonist of this lm is an unusually colored 1720 Stradivarius violin. e Oscar winning score is performed by American violinist, Joshua Bell. Mr. Bell owns and performs on the other red violin – the 1713 Huberman. In September we will show Rossini's e Barber of Seville and the Royal Ballet's e Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. All of Lewis Carroll's characters are delightfully and whimsically presented and grandparents of young ballet students may consider inviting Terpsichore's followers to attend with you. See you at the opera! ~ Harvey Toyama, admin@fsbopera.org, (951) 524-3765 54 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2026 Opera Club The Lifelong Learners invite you to enjoy the Handbell Sampler Program on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 6:30 pm in the RCN. All are welcome. You'll hear a brief history of handbells, some fun background stories about ringing, and learn more about our Four Seasons bells, and various playing techniques. We'll share a short video of the world-famous Raleigh Ringers, watch in awe as Kathie Sundstrom and Nora Travis play a duet with 28 bells; best of all, all volunteers will have a chance to play various bells of different sizes, an octave up and down, and a simple song. We hope you'll be hooked, and that you'll consider coming to our concerts at The Lodge, and possibly signing on as a sub, if you read music and count well. We're looking for musicians who are interested in joining when our Four Seasons Handbell Ringers meet again in the fall! ~ Judy Kelts, dkeltsj@aol.com Lifelong Learners Jonas Kaufman and Sophie Koch Samuel L. Jackson's epiphany