from Act III of the French opera
Werther by Jules Massenet
Libretto: Edouard Blau
Role: Charlotte, daughter of the Magistrate, Sophie's sister
Voice Part: mezzo-soprano Fach: lyric mezzo
Setting: the Magistrate's house at Christmas, Frankfurt, Germany, 1780
Synopsis: Charlotte has realized that she loves Werther but cannot ever marry him. She prays to help regain her courage, asking God to have pity on her and hear her plaintive cries.