A Prohibited Love

Between the first and second acts of Roméo and Juliette, our protagonist sheds her girlish braids. The carefree adolescent is first presented to the audience with her desire to live in a dream, however she is transformed into a woman after the first nocturnal meeting with her prohibited lover. The voice of Juliette changes from a light coloratura soprano to one of more dramatic colours. It is a real vocal and theatrical challenge which adds depth to this Grand Opera described by its composer Charles Gounod as “a fine progression” of a prologue, five acts and four love duos.

The production from the Teatro dell'Opera of Rome by Luca De Fusco comes to the stage of the Teatro de la Maestranza in an interpretation that focuses on the eternal conflict between young people and adults, the difficult dialogue between generations and the weight of social conventions. In this game of opposites, the luminous Juliette represents the Day as a contrast to the silvery moonlit Night identified with Romeo. The only immediate success of the composer’s career, this pillar of operatic repertory returns as a grand spectacle replete with poetry, action and tragedy, with the unmistakable aroma of the mélodie francaise.

OPERA IN A PROLOGUE AND FIVE ACTS BY CHARLES GOUNOD
LIBRETTO BY JULES BARBIER AND MICHAEL CARRÉ, BASED ON THE TRAGEDY BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
PREMIERE ON 27 APRIL 1867 AT THE THÉÂTRE LYRIQUE DE PARÍS
LAST PERFORMED AT THE TEATRO DE LA MAESTRANZA IN 2006
 

Romeo et Juliette (New Edition 2013) pour Charles Gounod Livret pour Jules Barbier et Michel Carré, d’après le drame de William Shakespeare
Premiere Music Group (Editions Choundens) de París
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