El Real settles its “unfinished business” with ‘Romeo and Juliet’, a “mega popular” title that has not been seen since 1911

The Royal Theater will be settled next Wednesday his “unfinished business” with the opera ‘Romeo and Juliet’by Charles-François Gounod, who will return to its stage more than a century latersince its last performance dates back to 1911, a “surprising” absence for the artistic director Joan Matabosch.

“It is impressive to think that it has been more than a century since a title as mega popular as this one has not accessed the stage of the Teatro Real. We know and are clear that Real had very important pending issues and it is crucial to approve them. This has been done systematically in recent decades and this is one of the titles that needed to be done. It had to be at the highest level“Joan Matabosch said at a press conference.

In total, the Teatro Real will offer 13 performances of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ until next June 13, in co-production with the Paris National Opera, and directed by Thomas Jolly, creator of the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ returns to the Royal Theater, staged, after 115 years, with a new production created from the oxymoron that unites Shakespeare’s tragedy and the lyricism of Gounod’s music, avoiding the verisimilitude of a specific time or space, in a temporal arc uniting the plague of the 17th century, the premiere of the opera at the Palais Garnier and the sensitivity and concerns of today.

The play stars Nadine Sierra – who plays Julieta – who has assured that she faces the premiere with the expectation that the public will “respond” and has highlighted the special connection with Spain, where, in her opinion, viewers are “enthusiastic” and value artistic work. “We always hope to do it well and that the public likes it. Spain is one of my favorite countries to sing because all the effort is really appreciated.“he stressed.

Likewise, he expressed his confidence in the success of the proposal, which he described as “extraordinary” and “outstanding.” “I have done many productions in my life and this one is truly spectacular. The opening scene will leave the audience breathless,” he stated, while praising the musical direction and the ensemble work of the cast, highlighting the quality “of each voice, from the first to the last.”

“Everything is fantastic, it is a production of the highest levelboth in music and in acting, and above all what excites me most about coming here is that the entire team cares about us, about what we do, about our work, something that does not always happen. Coming to Real makes me feel proud to be an opera singer“, he highlighted.

Along with Nadine Sierra will be the tenor Javier Camarena, who plays Romeo, and who has stressed the importance of understanding the context of the characters, two teenagers who, in their time, “already had a certain amount of adult thinking” due to a lower life expectancy. In this sense, he has pointed out that The work reflects both the “rebellion” against an adverse family environment and the process of discovery typical of youth.in which “it requires courage, maturity or even the madness of adolescence.”

Likewise, he has defined Romeo and Juliet as “love made into words and music”, highlighting how the score captures the emotional evolution of both characters, from innocence to absolute dedication “above death.” “It is always said that music is the universal language, and I believe that this opera is one of these great examples,” he remarked.

Finally, Camarena has valued his artistic relationship with Nadine Sierra, with whom he has shared the stage on several occasions, and who has performed this function on three occasions.

“She is a great artist, whom I admire and love very much, and that relationship allows us to convey to the public a real connection between two young people who are awakening to life.“he stated.

SCENOGRAPHY

Thomas Jolly, actor, stage director and great admirer of William Shakespeare, rose to fame in France when, during the confinement period caused by Covid, he and his partner performed scenes from Romeo and Juliet on the balconies of their apartment, which had an immense media impact.

A year later the director of the Paris Opera invited him to direct the new co-production that will now be seen at the Real and in which the fatality of the lovers is reinforced, by placing the plot also in a context of epidemic, against the backdrop of the plague that devastated Verona subtly evoked in a Shakespearean work.

The staging will be marked by a rotating set dominated by the grand staircase of the Paris Opera (Palais Garnier).

“Everyone in our lives sees ourselves daily faced with situations that we do not want to accept, like what happens to the protagonists. This work speaks of feeling, an effort to be able to exist and for the feeling to last,” said Jolly.

Another return will be that of maestro Carlos Rizzi, who premiered this production in Paris working closely with Thomas Jolly, and who after 23 years returns to the Real for his third production (he directed La Cenerentola in 2001 and La favorite in 2003).

With ‘Romeo and Juliet’ comes to an end the tribute to William Shakespeare throughout this season, in which ‘Otello’, by Giuseppe Verdi, ‘The Fairy Queen’, by Henry Purcell, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, by Benjamin Britten and the ballet ‘Juliet and Romeo’ choreographed by Mats Ek, have been offered.

The 13 performances of Romeo and Juliet will be dedicated to the memory of Alfredo Kraus (1927-1999), coinciding with the 40th anniversary of his first performance of Romeo at the Teatro de la Zarzuela – undoubtedly one of his favorite roles – and anticipating the commemoration of his centenary next year.