New-to-Chicago Production Romeo and Juliet
By Charles Gounod
- Language - In French with projected English titles
- Running Time - 3 hours 5 minutes including 1 intermission
He's a Montague and she's a Capulet — families who have hated each other for centuries. Yet when Romeo meets Juliet, they fall instantly and rapturously in love. Secretly, they marry — but Shakespeare's famed young couple is ultimately doomed. Everything that could have been is lost as they die tragically in each other's arms.
The world's most celebrated love story finds new dimension in Gounod's deeply romantic music. This is passion personified, from tender intimacy to ecstatic grandeur, including five iconic love duets and soaring music for the chorus and orchestra. With her "exquisite" voice of "purity and bloom" (The New York Times) Susanna Phillips will be a Juliet to remember, while Joseph Calleja and Eric Cutler embody all the elegance and golden ardor that Romeo demands.
This production of Romeo and Juliet was presented at Lyric February 22 – March 19, 2016. View our calendar to see what's currently on stage.
Learn More

Romeo and Juliet
by Charles Gounod
Warner Classics – Gheorghiu, Alagna, cond. Plasson
“Ah, lève-toi, soleil”
Romeo and Juliet Opera Synopsis
TIME: Renaissance
PLACE: Verona, Italy
Program Book
Go inside this production of Romeo and Juliet with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.
Meet The Artists

Joseph Calleja
Romeo (Feb 22-Mar 8)

Eric Cutler
Romeo (Mar 11-19)

Susanna Phillips
Juliet

Joshua Hopkins
Mercutio

Christian Van Horn
Friar Laurence

Marianne Crebassa
Stephano

Deborah Nansteel
Gertrude

Philip Horst
Capulet

Jason Slayden
Tybalt

David Govertsen
Duke of Verona

Mingjie Lei
Benvolio

Takaoki Onishi
Paris

Anthony Clark Evans
Gregorio

Emmanuel Villaume
Conductor

Bartlett Sher
Director

Michael Yeargan
Set Designer

Catherine Zuber
Costume Designer

Jennifer Tipton
Lighting Designer

Michael Black
Chorus Master

Chase Brock
Choreographer

B.H. Barry
Fight Director
Lyric Opera presentation generously made possible by the NIB Foundation, Julie and Roger Baskes, Mr. and Mrs. W. James Farrell, and PowerShares QQQ.
Production owned by The Metropolitan Opera.
Photo: Todd Rosenberg