Fri., April 20, 2007, 8pm, First Congr. Ch., New London
Sun., April 29, 2007,  6PM, Trinity On Main, New Britain
Charles Gounod - Romeo & Juliet
Virtuosi & Connecticut Lyric Opera Production
More Info...

JULIET (Soprano): Claudia Crouse
ROMEO (Tenor): Victor Khodadad
FRIAR LAWRENCE (Bass): Laurentiu Rotaru
MERCUTIO (Baritone): Daniel Kamalic
STEFANO (Mezzo-Soprano): Valerie Nicolosi
COUNT PARIS (Baritone): Timothy Dunn
COUNT CAPULET (Bass): Maksim Ivanov
GERTRUDE (Mezzo-soprano): Sharon Davis
TYBALT (Tenor): Maurizio Casa
BENVOLIO (Tenor): Fredrick Goff
DUKE (Bass): Stewart Battle

PRODUCER:
John Waller
STAGE DIRECTOR / CONDUCTOR:
Adrian Sylveen Mackiewicz
CHORUS MASTER
Pawel Jura

Crouse        Khodadad    Rotaru            Nicolsi

Romeo and Juliet has inspired countless retellings in opera, ballet, theatre and cinema, yet none can rival Gounod’s sumptuous combination of sensual 19th-century French music and the Bard’s emotional honesty. Blending multiple duets that express just about everything that young love can express with action scenes that preserve the balance that Shakespeare so carefully crafted between the brutality of the period and the tenderness that these young people created in the eye of the storm , Gounod’s opera is a masterpiece and was a hit from its first performance. The melodic score includes Juliet’s famous waltz, Romeo’s balcony aria, and follows a libretto that is quite true to the original; this strong connection provides the basis for the educational component of the student OPERAtunities performances that will accompany this production.

Starring in the title roles, tenor Victor Khodadad is a long-time Connecticut resident and graduate of Hartt and Yale Schools of Music, while soprano Claudia Crouse returns to CLO after having shined as Gilda in last season’s Rigoletto. Other familiar cast members include Daniel Kamalic as Mercutio and Valerie Nicolosi as Stephano (Masetto and Zerlina in CLO’s Don Giovanni), while bass Laurentiu Rotaru performs Friar Laurent - a role he was born to play! Directed and conducted by CLO’s Artistic Director, Maestro Adrian Mackiewicz, Roméo and Juliette will be performed in French with English supertitles projected above the stage, feature the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, period costumes and elaborate staging.

Roméo and Juliette will be premiered in New London on April 20th at First Congregational Church and repeated in New Britain on April 29th at Trinity-on-Main Performance Hall.