Cineplex Events brings Gounod’s passionate Roméo et Juliette live from New York City’s Metropolitan Opera to theatres across Canada, including Vernon’s Galaxy Cinemas, Jan. 21 at 9:55 a.m. PT as part of The Met: Live in HD.
The “thrilling star team” (New York Observer) of Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo sing with “white-hot sensuality and impassioned lyricism” (New YorkTimes) as Shakespeare’s classic star-crossed lovers in Gounod’s lush adaptation.
Director Bartlett Sher’s “brilliant and inspired new production…is a revelation" (Huffington Post), and has already won acclaim for its vivid 18th century milieu and stunning costumes during runs at Salzburg and La Scala. The performances are led by the “richly textured and vibrant conducting” (New York Times) of Gianandrea Noseda.
This is the second time this duo has performed together at The MetropolitanOpera. In 2015, they starred opposite each other in Manon prompting The NewYork Times to comment, “The temperature rises nearly to boiling every time Damrau and Grigolo are on stage together.”
Rounding out the cast is bass-baritone Laurent Naouri as head of the Capulet clan, bass Mikhail Petrenko as Frère Laurent, mezzo-soprano Virginie Verrez as Stéphano, Diana Montague asGertrude, Canadian baritone Elliot Madore as Mercutio and David Crawford as Pâris.
French composer Charles Gounod, best known for Ave Maria and for his opera Faust, composed Roméo et Juliette based on Shakespeare’s famous romantic tragedy. It was first performed at the Théâtre Lyrique Impérial du Châtelet in Paris on April 27, 1867.
Roméo et Juliette will be broadcast in French with English subtitles. If you miss the live showing, you can catch an encore show Feb. 18 or 27 or March1 at Cineplex theatres across the country. For theatre locations and showtimes,visit Cineplex.com.