Roméo et Juliette
Based on the play by William Shakespeare
March 29, April 2, 4, 6, 2008
Sung in French with English Surtitles
Music by Charles Gounod
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
The beauty and poignancy of the world's most famous love story is underscored by the lush and stylish composition of Gounod. Based on Shakespeare's immortal Romeo and Juliet, this adaptation includes everything you could ask for in an opera - feuding families, disguises, illicit romance, a ballet, duels, poison, and of course, a sleeping potion.
Gounod composed this opera at the height of his career and it is said that the love duets capture both the sentimentality of his own era and the drama of Shakespeare's original. From the turbulent prelude that captures the intensity of the feud between the Capulets and Montagues, to Romeo's tender farewell, Gounod's music hovers "between mysticism and voluptuousness."
The role of Juliette will be sung by Korean soprano Youngok Shin who has been a leading artist at the Metropolitan Opera for over 10 seasons where she has performed the roles of Gilda in Rigoletto, Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera and Elvira in I Puritani. Stephen Costello is rapidly establishing himself as one of the tenors to watch after impressive debuts with the Dallas Opera, Teatro Reggio in Torino, Opera Orchestra of New York and the Opéra National de Bordeaux. Daniel Mobbs made his BOC debut in the 1997 production of Roméo et Juliette. He has since returned to the BOC in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La Cenerentola and Lakmé. Marcus McConico, an alumnus of the Baltimore Opera Studio and interpreter of the role of Alfredo in the BOC's 2005 La Traviata, returns to the Lyric stage as Tybalt. Maestro Steven White returns to the Lyric podium where he displayed a sensitive and lyrical conducting style while leading I Puritani, La Sonnambula and L'Assedio di Corinto.
The production will be directed by Bernard Uzan noted stage director, designer, producer and former General and Artistic Director of L'Opera de Montreal.
Tickets available August 27, 2007
Sample Audio
"Ah, je veux
vivre" |
"Ah, jour
de deuil" |
Juliette – Mirella Freni; Roméo – Franco Corelli. Orchestra and Chorus of the Paris National Opera. Conductor – Alain Lombard. Recording – EMI CMS 5 65290 2, courtesy of EMI Classics. |
|
| CAST | |
| Juliette | Youngok Shin |
| Roméo | Stephen Costello |
| Frère Laurent/ Duke of Verona |
Peter Volpe |
| Tybalt | Marcus McConico |
| Mercutio | Daniel Mobbs |
| Capulet | Andrew Stuckey |
| Conductor | Steven White |
| Stage Director | Bernard Uzan |
 Youngok Shin |
 Stephen Costello |
 Marcus McConico |
 Daniel Mobbs |
 Andrew Stuckey |
 Steven White |