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| Diana Damrau & Vittorio Grigolo in "Romeo et Juliette" (photo: Metropolitan Opera) |
The brief Prologue, sung by The Metropolitan Opera
Chorus, introduces the story of the perennial feud between the
Capulet and Montague families in Verona (updated from the fourteenth
to the eighteenth century). The first act then takes place at a
masked ball at the Capulet Palace where Tybalt (tenor Diego Silva)
awaits the arrival of his cousin Juliette (soprano Diana Damrau),
telling her potential suitor Paris (bass-baritone David Crawford)
he'll be overwhelmed by her beauty. She is led in by her father
Capulet (bass-baritone Laurent Naouri). Soon after the dancing
begins, Romeo (tenor Vittorio Grigolo), a member of the Montague
family, enters with his friends Mercutio (baritone Elliot Madore) and
Benvolio (tenor Tony Stevenson). Romeo and Juliette fall in love at
first sight. Tybalt recognizes Romeo as he leaves, though masked, but
is restrained by Capulet and his servant Gregorio (bass-baritone
Jeongcheol Cha) from following him. Later, in the courtyard beneath
Juliette's balcony, Romeo declares his love for Juliette who returns
the fervor. After a brief interruption by her servants, they vow to
marry. Still later, in the cell of Frere Laurent (bass Mikhail
Petrenko), Romeo, Juliette and her nurse Gertrude (mezzo Diana
Montague) are told by the good friar that he will marry them, in
hopes of ending the family feud. Soon after, in the street, Stephano
(mezzo Virginie Verrez), Romeo's page, sings a mocking song that
results in a swordfight in which Tybalt first kills Mercutio, after
which Romeo stabs Tybalt and is banished by the Duke of Verona (bass
Oren Gradus). Some time later, Romeo and Juliette spend their secret
wedding night together, and she forgives him for killing one of her
family. After Romeo leaves to go into exile, Capulet informs
Juliette that she is to marry Paris immediately. Desperate, she
swallows a sleeping potion (given her by Frere Laurent) which will
make her appear dead. Romeo arrives at the tomb of the Capulets and,
believing his beloved dead, drinks poison. She awakens and, to join
him forever, stabs herself, as they both die praying for forgiveness.
The Production by Bartlett Sher, first presented at
Salzburg in 2008, is a very theatrical one, befitting Sher's Broadway
experience (his recent “Fiddler on the Roof” ended its run just
as this operatic version premiered). His pairing of the matinee-idol
handsome Grigolo and lovely Damrau, with their undeniable chemistry,
was a definite plus as they literally sang themselves to death with
consummate lyricism. Also, as Sher noted in an intermission
interview, they both move very well. Damrau was every inch a teenager
with childlike gestures and activism, and Grigolo was pure
athleticism as he scaled the walls to Juliette's balcony. The rest of
the cast was equally fine, notably Naouri and Montague as the adults
in the room. Madore did gnaw on the scenery a bit, but it's a role
that pretty much forgives this sort of thing.
The score was impressively Conducted by Gianandrea
Noseda (his first time with this work), with Scenic Design by Michael
Yeargan, lovely Costume Design by Catherine Zuber, Lighting Design by
Jennifer Tipton (too often way too dark to see the chorus) and
Choreography by Chase Brock, with Chorus Master Donald Palumbo
leading the always dependable Met Opera Chorus. The HD Host was
Ailyn Perez and HD Director was Gary Halvorson.
It was a grand night (or afternoon) for singing, even if
(spoiler here) all doesn't end well.
Fathom Events Encore HD presentation on Wednesday January 25 at 6:30pm at a theater near you.
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