Lush melodies, dazzling arias, and a love story for the ages
The Montague and Capulet families have been feuding in Verona for hundreds of years. But when Romeo meets Juliet at a masked ball, they fall innocently, and tragically, in love. Shakespeare’s greatest love story takes on new life with Gounod’s rapturously romantic score. Its stunning melodies, grand choruses—and the Dallas Opera debut of Golda Schultz—will leave you wondering “Did my heart love till now?”
Fresh off a triumph at the Metropolitan Opera, Golda Schultz delivers her “distinctively thrilling radiance” (The Financial Times) to Dallas in a performance that is not to be missed. Tenor Long Long brings the lovestruck Romeo to life with “a voice one could happily listen to all day.” (Seen and Heard International) »See full cast
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Featuring conductor Nicole Paiement and the Dallas Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
Romeo and Juliet is a co-production between The Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and The Atlanta Opera.
Original Set Designer, John Conklin
Co-Set Designer, Julia Noulin-Mérat
Costume Designer, Gregory Gale
Lighting Designer, Thomas Hase
Show Details
Language
Sung in French with English Titles
Running Time
Approximate run time is 2 hours and 40 minutes including one 20-minute intermission
Rating
This production contains adult content, including depictions of murder and self-harm. Viewer discretion is advised.
Cast
Long Long
RomeoGolda Schultz
JulietRaymond Aceto
Friar LaurenceEmily Sierra
StephanoEugene Villanueva
MercutioNathan Bowles
BenvolioClaudia Chapa
GertrudeDonnie Ray Albert
Lord CapuletAndrew Turner
TybaltErik Earl Larson
Count ParisNavasard Hakobyan
GregorioKevin Thompson
Duke of VeronaMalcolm Payne Jr.
Friar JeanAminah Alvarez
DancerSilken Kelly
DancerWilson Livingston
DancerMicah Moch
DancerJamal Story
DancerClaire van Bever
DancerCreative Team
Nicole Paiement
ConductorRomain Gilbert
DirectorJohn Conklin
Original Set DesignerJulia Noulin-Mérat
Co-Set DesignerGregory Gale
Costume DesignerThomas Hase
Lighting DesignerKrista Billings
Associate Lighting DesignerVincent Chaillet
ChoreographerDavid Zimmerman
Wig and Make-Up DesignerSynopsis
Romeo and Juliet Opera Synopsis
Setting: Verona in the fourteenth century
A choral prologue foretells the tragedy of Verona’s two rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets.
Part I
At a ball in honor of his daughter Juliet’s birthday, Count Capulet presents her to the court. Among the crowd are some uninvited guests: Romeo and his friend Mercutio, members of the rival Montague clan. When Romeo catches a glimpse of Juliet he falls immediately in love with her; and when they meet, she falls in love just as instantaneously. Still unaware of each other’s identity, the would-be lovers are interrupted by Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt. He recognizes Romeo as a Montague, but is restrained from attacking him by Count Capulet so as not to create a scene at the ball.
Unbeknown to Juliet, Romeo is hiding in the garden beneath her balcony when she calls into the night for him. He reveals himself and they declare their love. They are interrupted by Gregorio and the Capulet servants, who are searching for an intruder, and again by Juliet’s nurse, who calls her inside. Romeo and Juliet take their leave, promising eternal devotion.
The next day Romeo and Juliet meet in the cell of Friar Lawrence, who agrees to marry them in the hope that their union may bring an end to the feud between their families.
INTERMISSION
Part II
The page Stephano is waiting for his master Romeo, whom he thinks is at the Capulet home. He sings an impertinent song which leads to a quarrel. Romeo tries to stop the fighting, but Tybalt kills Mercutio. In retaliation Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from the city.
Romeo and Juliet have spent the night together; it is dawn and Romeo must flee. Gertrude comes to warn Juliet that her father is approaching with Friar Lawrence. Count Capulet tells Juliet that according to the dying wish of her cousin Tybalt, she must on that very day marry Paris, the nobleman her father has selected to be her husband. No one dares tell Count Capulet that Juliet has already married Romeo. When her father leaves, Friar Lawrence stays behind to give Juliet a sleeping potion that will cause her to appear dead for twenty-four hours; when she wakes up in her tomb, Romeo will be there for her.
Romeo returns for Juliet. He has not received the message from Friar Lawrence that she is only sleeping, and, upon finding her apparently lifeless body, he swallows poison. Juliet awakens and they are reunited—but only briefly. The poison begins to work, and Juliet, desiring to be united with Romeo in death, plunges his dagger into her breast.
Courtesy of Houston Grand Opera
Pre- and Post-Opera Discussions
Join us for these engaging and informative pre- and post-opera discussions:
Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk: Hosted by Nicole Paiement, the Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Principal Guest Conductor, this interactive 30-minute lecture begins one hour before the start of each opera in the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall. Admission is free with your ticket to a Dallas Opera performance.
Sunday Post-Opera Talkback: Immediately following the Sunday matinee performance from the stage, this brief and casual Q&A session with members of the cast gives you an opportunity to ask questions about the performance. Hosted by Kristian Roberts, Director of Education for The Dallas Opera.
Sponsors
The Radford and Patricia Crocker Foundation, in honor of Mary Brinegar
Presenting Sponsor
The Richard and Enika Schulze Foundation
Presenting Sponsor
Betty and Steve Suellentrop
Presenting Sponsor
Martha Allday
Producing Sponsor
Ruth Bison, in honor of Dr. Maureen McGeehan
Supporting Sponsor
Paula S. Lambert
Supporting Sponsor
Mary Anne Cree, in memory of Rosine Smith Sammons
Season Sponsor