WA Opera presents a co-production with State Opera South Australia and Irish National Opera of Gounod’s take on Shakespeare. The opera sticks pretty closely to the play, with a masked ball, duels and a lengthy balcony scene, not to mention a lilting coloratura waltz song for Juliette. Known for her psychologically driven updates on the classics, Greek-born Rodula Gaitanou directs with Christopher van Tuinen conducting the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and WA Opera Chorus. Alasdair Kent and Samantha Clarke are the star-crossed lovers with Benjamin Del Borrello as Mercutio, Andrew Foote as Friar Laurent and Fiona Campbell as Juliette’s nurse Gertrude.

Limelight Editor’s Choice

Shakespeare’s tragic tale of love and family conflict has echoed through the centuries and in Gounod’s opera the drama becomes even more intimate, more fragile, more achingly human. Roméo Montague and Juliette Capulet fall deeply in love, but their families are bitter enemies, fate is cruel, and time is short.

Gounod’s music gives voice to what words alone can’t express: the rush of first love, the weight of hatred, the quiet devastation of loss. Every duet is a confession.

Every harmony, a heartbeat held in suspense. Award-winning director, Rodula Gaitanou and Olivier Award-nominated designer, takis deliver a striking new co-production from West Australian Opera, State Opera South Australia, and Irish National Opera.