Gounod's Romeo and Juliet

Starring in one of Shakespeare’s operatic adaptations, soprano Julie Fuchs and tenor Benjamin Bernheim appear in perhaps the bard’s greatest love story—Romeo and Juliette! Since its creation in the theater in 1597, the work has gone on to inspire some of the great operatic tragedies for centuries, retelling the story of two young lovers amidst the rivalry of their respective families.

In this 5 act version by Charles Gounod from 1897, the plot is kept as close to the original as possible. However, the libretto by Barbier and Carré features a new scene where Roméo and Juliette express their love for each other standing over their graves, knowing that their fatal end is nigh. Surrounded by busts of the great Germanic composers, this production opens on a set filled with cocktail dresses and military uniforms reminiscent of the 1950’s. Each character evolves between the four walls of this gigantic box under a series of projections. Creating an oppressive ambiance, producer Ted Huffner places Verona at the heart of World War II.