Roberto Alagna

Opera

Opera in five acts by Charles Gounod

Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
after the homonymous drama by Shakespeare
Created at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris, on April 27, 1867.

Performances

Lyric Opéra  Chicago

Cast

Juliette : Angela Gheorghiu

Roméo : Roberto Alagna

Mise en scène : NicolasJoel

Direction musicale : Michel Plasson 

Orchestre et choeurs de l'Opéra de Chicago

Press Review

Chicago Tribune - John von Rhein - January 25, 1999

They came, they sang, they conquered
 

The husband and wife team rise to the occasion in the Lyric's "Romeo." It is, of course, Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, the husband and wife singers who have been making a name for themselves in the opera world for most of the decade. The real-life tale of how they met on stage in London and married in 1996 backstage at the Metropolitan Opera made the duo a media sensation, not to mention the quality of their singing.

So when the Lyric Opera presented the singers in their Chicago debut
as the star-crossed lovers of Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet" on Saturday at the Lyric Opera, all fingers were crossed. Would the opera's "love couple" buckle under the pressure?

Fear not: both artists acquitted themselves very well and were rewarded with a volley of ovations and bouquets at the end. After all, the opportunity to hear young, charismatic real-life lovers portray doomed lovers on an opera stage is as rare as it is compelling.

At least the Lyric has surrounded its stars with a solid production,
from Toulouse, France, via London and Paris, directed by
Nicolas Joel and Arnaud Bernard in Carlo Tommasi's traditional sets and costumes. John Nelson conducted with a lively and vigorous hand, refusing to sentimentalize an already sentimental opera. He paced the opera well and
and drew refined playing from the orchestra.

The kind of romantic alchemy that naturally emerges from Alagna and
Gheorghiu can only help an imperfect romantic opera. With his jet hair
Gheorghiu made us feel the emotional intensity of Juliet's growth as a woman through a powerful first love. The tenor portrayed a virile and athletic character, at times literally throwing himself into his role with adolescent ardor. In the bridal chamber scene, Romeo slid across the stage in a lip-smacking embrace with Juliet 

Alagna is a confident lyric tenor with a soft tone. His diction is impeccable in this classical French tenor role. He takes risks, sometimes ill-advised. Perhaps because he is not familiar with the acoustics of the Opera, his instinctive style and his seemingly boundless energy