Romeo and Juliet

Opera in 5 acts
Libretto: Jules Barbier and Michel Carré after William Shakespeare
World premiere: 27 April 1867, Paris
Premiere of this production: 3 May 2025, Dresden
Producer: Semperoper Dresden
In the original French with Polish and English surtitles

The history of Romeo and Juliet is one of the best-known cultural tropes reproduced in theatre, musical, and film. Composers discovered the power of the Verona lovers’ tragedy already in the 19th century. One of them was the prominent French composer Charles Gounod, who wrote sacred music, oratorios, songs, and fared well on the operatic scene. Romeo and Juliet is his most popular work for the stage, alongside Faust. The opera won acclaim immediately after its premiere at the1867 Paris Exposition, quickly gaining renown in Europe as well as the United States.

This was not, however, the first 19th-century opera exploring the Romeo and Juliet trope. The story had earlier inspired Vincenzo Bellini and Hector Berlioz, among others. Penned by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, the libretto largely remains faithful to the original, although it relies on David Garrick’s edition of the Shakespearian drama. The famous 18th-century actor and playwright rid the play of controversial fragments that were seen as potentially offensive and revised the ending, adding a scene where the two protagonists bid their final farewells before dying. Gounod’s version passes over the social aspect of the doomed relationship: the warring families do not reconcile in the face of the tragedy. Instead, the opera focuses on the lovers’ individual tragedy. The eponymous characters’ solo parts shed light on their personalities: Juliet reveals her vivacious nature through the coloratura waltz aria Je veux vivre, while passionate Romeo pours his heart into the cavatina Ah! lève-toi soleil!. Central to the opera are four love duets, each capturing a different stage of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. Gounod illustrates their infatuation with a charming minuet, then goes on to chart the development of their relationship, forced break-up, and ultimate end in the face of death. The charming melodies, subtle harmonies, and sophisticated orchestration enable the composer to navigate between tragedy and lyricism.

In her production created for Semperoper Dresden, Barbara Wysocka demonstrates that the story of Romeo and Juliet is deeply relevant today. She proves how the Shakespearian story resonates with the present-day realities as a tale of two people who desperately look for human connection in a world where love and intimacy are foreign concepts. Wysocka does not allude to the current political events. She focuses on the failure of the system and the fact that a society does not need a majority to inflict violence. This is a world that promotes conflict, forces individuals to take sides, and takes away people’s privacy. In the midst of it all, two people are on the lookout for love.

Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera