The Teatro Real settles a historical debt with the opera Romeo and Juliet by Charles-François Gounod, a title that had not graced its stage since 1911. Joan Matabosch, artistic director, describes this absence of over a century for such a popular work as surprising. The production, in 13 performances from May 27 to June 13, is a co-production with the Opéra national de Paris.
Lighting and Scenography for a 19th-Century Classic 🎭
The direction is by Thomas Jolly, known for his work at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games ceremony. The stage proposal combines traditional elements with state-of-the-art LED lighting technology, creating atmospheres that evoke Renaissance Verona without falling into sensationalism. The sound design, adapted to the acoustics of the Madrid coliseum, reinforces Gounod's orchestral textures.
Verona, 1911: The Last Time Romeo Smelled of Mothballs 🏰
The last performance in 1911 took place in a Madrid that still did not know radio or sound cinema. The spectators of that time probably applauded with gloves and hats. Now, 114 years later, the audience will be able to see if the teenage love of the Capulets and Montagues is still as profitable as that of any youth streaming series. That is, without spoilers: we all know how it ends.