Gounod's Romeo et Juliette Returns to the Met

Gounod's Roméo et Juliette will return to the Metropolitan Opera beginning March 3 for a run of performances featuring Angela Gheorghiu as Juliette and Piotr Beczala as Roméo. Plácido Domingo conducts the revival of Guy Joosten's 2005 production. Gheorghiu, one of the most celebrated Juliettes of her generation, will star opposite Beczala in his first Met performances of Roméo. Gounod's romantic setting of Shakespeare's timeless story will also feature bass-baritone James Morris as Frère Laurent; Canadian mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne as Roméo's page, Stéphano; and American baritone Lucas Meachem as the hot-tempered Mercutio.

Gheorghiu, who last sang Juliette at the Met in 1998, has won praise for her passionate interpretation of the role at leading opera houses around the world. Beczala-a notable Met Rodolfo, Edgardo, Lenski, and Duke of Mantua-will bring his acclaimed Roméo, recently heard at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Salzburg Festival, to the Met for the first time. James Morris, who celebrates the 40th anniversary of his Met debut this season, will sing the role of kindly Frère Laurent for the first time at the Met in over 30 years. Domingo, who sang the role of Roméo in the Met's 1974-75 season, first conducted the opera here in 1986. He returned to conduct a 2007 revival starring Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna that was transmitted internationally through The Met: Live in HD.

Joosten's production features sets by Johannes Leiacker, costumes by Jorge Jara, lighting by David Cunningham, and choreography by Sean Curran. The performance on March 22 will be conducted by Paul Nadler.

Live Broadcasts
The March 3 opening performance of Roméo et Juliette will be broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio on SIRIUS channel 78 and XM channel 79, as will the March 7 and 22 performances.

 

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