Home
About
Activism
Performances
News
Recordings
Press
Media
Photo Gallery

Romeo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi)

Show down. (first time I've ever had to hold a gun - I loved it as Romeo on stage, but found it unbearable off stage) with William Burden, Tebaldo ©Cory Weaver

Romeo, disguised as a messanger, loses control when all attempts at peace are rejected. ©Cory Weaver

Romeo has taken the poison, and yet - he hears Giuletta's voice calling after him ... ©Cory Weaver

The two meet, and battle is inevitable. (This is where my kick boxing training in Santa Fe came in handy!) with William Burden, Tebaldo ©Cory Weaver

As only great opera can do, the indescribable moment of

The rivalry with Tebaldo is quickly established - with William Burden, Tebaldo ©Cory Weaver

Romeo gets the upper hand, but cannot finish the deed, with William Burden, Tebaldo ©Cory Weaver

She has awoken, and he is dying. The timeless tragedy ticks onward, with Nicole Cabel, Giuletta ©Cory Weaver

Tebaldo arrives on the scene (wounded in this production) and Romeo must wrestle with his loyalty to his tribe, and his intense desire to leave violence behind. ©Cory Weaver

Death. With Nicole Cabel, Giuletta ©Cory Weaver

At the start of Act 2 for Romeo, all is deserted, and Giulietta has not come. The sense foreboding atmosphere overwhelms him. It felt even more intense in this wonderful production, because the effects of the bombing were all around - he was already surrounded by death and destructiong, making his love feel even more isolated. ©Cory Weaver

41040891-Cap_Mon0279

Lost teenagers - in love, but forbidden to be together, in Bellini's telling, the only peace they find is through the music. Photo c/o Mercury News

Fresh from his failed attempt at peace, Romeo arrives to beg Giulietta to flee with him, knowing that there is no hope for them here. He is stunned to find her confused and not willing to run away with him. Photo c/o Mercury News

Romeo and Giulietta, both dead, float off into the ether ~ the only real moment of peace is found only in their death as the families rush into the tomb still swearing revenge. Have we learned nothing? Photo © Cory Weaver

And finally, in the funeral march, the name Giuletta is uttered, and Romeo's world completely crashes down as the earth opens and swallows him whole. Photo © Cory Weaver

Voices from afar signal that something dreadful has happened, and for a brief moment, all time stops. It is the only time we hear a female chorus, and the harmonies that Bellini finds in this moment are bone chilling. Photo © Cory Weaver

One of the most heartbreaking lines is soon to follow

The duel is set to erupt, after a lengthy duet, of course. Photo © Cory Weaver

Finally, the two lovers collapse together, no longer able to fight the same fight their families insist upon, and this signals the end of the near 15 minute duet that is a true highlight of the piece. Photo © Cory Weaver

Giulietta, tied by the fates to a wedding to Tebaldo that her father has ordered her to go through with, Romeo is devastated, and she remains completely torn by love and by duty. This photo is the start of the divine cadenza that lasts nearly 2 pages for R & G, and it is the height of all vocal joy to sing this kind of music with such a beautiful singer as Nicole. Photo c/o Mercury News

Giulietta, faltering under the pressure and the inevitability of this terrible situation, collapses in exhaustion and pain, and Romeo searches for a way to keep them together. Photo © Cory Weaver

Surrounded by the enemy, Romeo accuses them of refusing to take the peace offering, so any blood shed will now be on their hands and not his. Photo © Cory Weaver

In dangerous territory, Romeo holds firmly to sing the cabaletta of his opening aria. Such great energy from the San Francisco Opera Chorus. Photo © Cory Weaver

Romeo meets his rival, Tebaldo, and we know it will not end well. Even though Romeo is a lover, he is also a warrior, and as much as he abhors it, his destiny pulls him into the fray and he cannot walk away. Photo © Cory Weaver

At the start of Romeo's Act 2, he is completely alone and deserted. Lorenzo has not come to meet him, and as far as he knows, no solution can be found. It's a wonderful moment to be completely isolated on the stage listening to the glorious strains of the clarinet solo. Photo © Cory Weaver

Romeo tentatively arrives under cover to try to make peace with his enemies, the Capulets. Photo © Cory Weaver

Romeo reaches out to the head of the Capulets by offering to take the place of the son he killed earlier. It is audacious, but it is very sincere, for he desperately wants to find a way to bring these two families together. Photo © Cory Weaver

Romeo's appearance in enemy territory ~ a most perilous and audacious act, considering he had killed one of their sons earlier. Photo © Cory Weaver

Montague, Christian Lacroix in all his glory! The women in the Act 1 finale are set simply as decoration, for this is a man's story about war and power. Women are meant only for

After Romèo takes the decision to join Giuletta in death and drinks in all the poison, before

The big showdown: finally the rivals can resist the battle no more, and a compelling, near-Verdian duet ensues. As soon as the singing is done (which takes a little while - this is opera, after all!) - the fighting breaks out, but is immediately interrupted by one of the most heart-wrenching, exquisitely painful passages in all of opera - the funeral march of Giuletta announced by the moving off-stage chorus. I found this transition from enraged

Romèo is discovered in the street by his rival, Tebaldo (the wonderful Matthew Polenzani) and not wanting to escalate the rivalry, finally Romeo cannot contain his passion in defending Giuletta. I loved the use of light in this production - lots of shadows to hide in, and lots of light to bathe in when the drama begged for it. June, 2008. Photography: Sebastien Mathè

In the gorgeous Act 1 finale, Bellini makes time stand still as he presents an acappella section for the 5 principal singers, each expressing a very different emotion. For Romèo, his youth (and testosterone) have once again overcome him, unable to let his rival pass, he reveals his true identity to his enemy, Tebaldo, putting both he and Giuletta - not to mention their escape plan - in grave danger. Dramatically, it gives one moment of

As the duet continues, Romèo pleads his case again to his beloved Giuletta, not understanding how she can believe that there is a power greater than the love they share together. It's a wonderfully crafted scene, because we get insight to the youth of Romèo as his wounds escalate due to his inability to see her very real dilemma - for him, his undying love for her is the answer for all, and all she should need. Of course, to drive home the point of this pure love, Bellini gives us those delicious thirds for them to sing in perfect, harmonic unison. (For the record, as a performer, these kinds of moments are the

Giuletta tries to explain why she cannot flee her home with Romèo because of her duty to her family. This comes in the middle of a ravishing and draining 14 minute duet in the first act. Performing with Anna Netrebko was wonderful, because it felt as though we were really creating a very realistic dramatic tension which the audience felt - because in these moments the silence in the theater pulsed with energy. June, 2008. Photography: Sebastien Mathè

View

Load More

There will always be more freedom to acquire and more truth to uncover.
Joyce DiDonato

Stay in Touch

Website by Lenny’s Studio | Privacy & Cookie Policy | Contact Joyce

Follow on Instagram
Like on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Watch on Youtube

Joyce DiDonato is an exclusive recording artist of Warner Classics | Erato. Copyright © 2024 Joyce DiDonato | All rights reserved