Dicapo Opera Theatre Opens with Gounod's 'Roméo et Juliette'

Dicapo Opera Theatre, New York's third opera company, opens its 2007-08 season with a new production of Charles Francois Gounod's Roméo et Juliette Thursday, October 4, at 6:30PM.  Three subsequent performances will take place on Saturday, October 6 and Friday, October 12 at 8PM and Sunday, October 14 at 4PM.  The opera is sung in French with English titles.

"Gounod (1818-1893) was one of many composers in the 19th century whose works were based on Shakespeare's dramas.  With a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carre, the opera was first sung at Theatre Lyrique, Paris in April 1867.  In his version of this action-filled opera, Gounod made the story of the young lovers more romantic by changing Shakespeare's original version of the death scene to enable Romeo and Juliette to express their devotion to each other as Romeo dies," describe press notes.

Roméo et Juliette is conducted by Pacien Mazzagatti; creative team includes John Farrell (sets), Angela Huff (costumes), Susan Roth (lighting), Dale Girard (fight master).

The cast stars Kristin Sampson (soprano) as Juliette, Jason Karn (tenor) as Romeo, Matthew Lau (bass) as Friar Lawrence, Lisa Chavez (mezzo-soprano) as Gertrude, Chad Armstrong (baritone) as Mercutio, Richard R. Furman (tenor) as Tybalt, Bryce Smith (basso cantante) as Capulet, Robin Flynn (soprano) as Stephano, Martin Fisher (baritone) as Gregorio, Greg Frens (baritone) as Paris, Michael Boley (tenor) as Benvoglio, and Gary Ramsey (bass) as The Prince.

The performances will take place at Dicapo Opera Theatre located on the lower level of St. Jean Baptiste Church at 184 East 76th Street at Lexington Avenue.  Single tickets are $55 and are available at the Dicapo Opera Theatre box office or by calling 212-288-9438, ext. 10.

The 6:30PM opening night performance of Roméo et Juliette will be followed at 9:30PM by a gala benefit dinner at the New York Athletic Club (180 Central Park South) and preceded at 6PM reception at Dicapo Opera Theatre.  Black tie is optional.  Individual tickets for the entire gala evening, a benefit for Dicapo Opera Theatre which will be attended by such opera legends as Licia Albanese, Renata Scotto, and Diana Soviero, are $250 and are available by calling 212-759-7652.