Performance - Romeo and Juliet

Composed by Charles Gounod; Conducted by Domingo Hindoyan and Lina González-Granados

A love so passionate. So poetic. So forbidden.

Two feuding families rule Verona, with the Montagues and Capulets each determined to write their victory in blood. A chance meeting between Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet sparks a forbidden romance. But it wouldn’t be a Shakespearean tragedy without...well...tragedy.

Famed Venezuelan conductor Domingo Hindoyan and our very own Resident Conductor Lina González-Granados lead Gounod’s romantic score, studded with one gorgeous love duet after another. Rising stars Amina Edris and Duke Kim make their house debuts as opera’s favorite star-crossed lovers, with Justin Austin in his debut as Mercutio and company favorite Craig Colclough as Lord Capulet. Enter a sensuous, elegant world of vengeful duels and young love as this beloved classic returns to LA Opera for the first time since 2011.

Running time: approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission.
Sung in:  French with English subtitles.

An original LA Opera production.

Synopsys:

Prologue
Verona. A chorus tells of the tragic death of two young lovers destroyed by the ongoing feud between their families, the Montagues and the Capulets.

Act One
A festive crowd enjoys a ball given by the Capulet family. Capulet introduces his daughter Juliet, who charms the guests with her youthful beauty. As the crowd moves into the adjoining rooms for dancing, some young men come forward and unmask, friends of the rival Montagues. Although Mercutio tries to cheer him, Romeo is uneasy to find himself in enemy territory until his gloom is dispelled by the first sight of Juliet.

Juliet dismisses her Nurse’s talk of marriage to Count Paris; she is too excited about the ball to think about serious matters. When the Nurse is called away, Romeo takes the opportunity to speak with Juliet. Their mutual attraction is immediate. Romeo is dismayed to discover that he has fallen in love with the daughter of his sworn enemy. Tybalt recognizes Romeo’s voice and informs Juliet that she has been speaking with a hated Montague. Tensions rise, but Capulet defuses the situation by urging everyone to continue with the dance.

Act Two
Under cover of night, Romeo enters the Capulets’ garden to wait beneath Juliet’s balcony. When she appears, they cast aside their family prejudices and exchange passionate vows of love. Gregorio and the other Capulet servants come searching for any Montagues who might be lingering after the ball, but Romeo remains unseen. Alone with Romeo again, Juliet promises to marry him in secret.

Act Three
Friar Laurence agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet secretly, thereby helping to end the rivalry between the Capulets and Montagues. The Nurse arrives with Juliet to witness the ceremony.

Stephano sings a mocking song in front of the Capulet house. Gregorio and the other servants are impressed at the boy’s audacity; Gregorio and Stephano provoke a fight. When Mercutio enters, he is indignant to find the Capulets fighting a boy so young. Tybalt races in, and challenges Mercutio. Romeo tries to stop the fight, but Tybalt kills Mercutio. Enraged, Romeo challenges Tybalt and kills him, then privately despairs that he has killed a member of his wife’s family. As punishment, Romeo is exiled by the Duke of Verona.

Intermission

Act Four
At dawn in Juliet’s bedroom, Juliet forgives Romeo for Tybalt’s death. The lovers say farewell before Romeo reluctantly leaves for exile. After Romeo has left, Capulet announces that Juliet is to marry Count Paris the very next day. Friar Laurence gives her a potion which will make her appear dead; he will then arrange for Romeo to rescue Juliet from the tomb once she has awoken so the couple can leave Verona together. Juliet drinks the potion.

The next day, during the wedding ceremony, Juliet suddenly falls to the floor. The assembled guests are horrified when Capulet cries out that she is dead.

Act Five
Friar John tells Friar Laurence that news never reached Romeo that Juliet’s death was faked.

Romeo comes to Juliet’s tomb. Unaware of the truth, he believes Juliet to be dead. In despair, he drinks poison. Juliet revives too late to prevent his death. She stabs herself and the lovers die together.

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