Organization

Costume designer

Carlo Tommasi

Singer

Baritone

Richard Halton

Paris

Chorus master

Terry Edwards

Conductor

Charles Mackerras

Bass

David Wilson-Johnson

The Duke

Stage director

Nicolas Joël

Set designer

Lighting designer

Bruno Boyer

Tenor

Roberto Alagna

Romeo

Soprano

Leontina Vaduva

Juliet

Paul Charles Clarke

Tybalt

Bass-baritone

Peter Sidhom

Count Capulet

Mezzo-soprano

Sarah Walker

Gertrude

François Le Roux

Mercutio

Jeremy White

Gregory

Anna-Maria Panzarella

Stephano

Robert Lloyd

Friar Laurent

Royal Opera House

Orchestra

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Others

Chorus of the Royal Opera House

French

Roméo et Juliette -  (Romeo and Juliet)

London

United Kingdom

Main Stage

Charles-François Gounod's musical rendition of the timeless story of Romeo and Juliet is here directed for stage by Nicolas Joel, starring Roberto Alagna and Leontina Vaduva.

Gounod directly adapted his lyrical opera from William Shakespeare's play; the librettists thus remained very close to several characteristics of the play, such as Mercutio's famous "Queen Mab" speech and the balcony scene. After the warlike overture which illustrates the rivalry between the two families, the chorus tells the unavoidable tragedy:

"Verona, saw of old, two rival families:
The Montagues, the Capulets.
From their endless wars, to both of them fatal
Shed blood on the threshold of their palaces.
Like a vermilion ray shines in a stormy sky
Juliette appeared, and Roméo loved her."

The four duets between the two lovers express this sudden and passionate love and are among the most beautiful pieces of late French romanticism.

With this production, the young Roberto Alagna is propelled on the forefront of the international scene. Known as a reference interpreter of Romeo, he will go back to this role on numerous stages and on records. Together with Leontina Vaduva, they perfectly personify the dreamy and impassioned lovers.

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