I Capuleti e i Montecchi - Opernhaus Zürich (2015) - I Capuleti e i Montecchi - Opernhaus Zürich (2015)

Description

New production

A Romeo and Juliet opera without a “balcony scene”? A woman singing the role of Romeo? Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi is remarkable in many respects. Indeed, the opera has little in common with Shakespeare, as the librettist Felice Romani referred to Italian sources. Romeo and Giulietta have long since been lovers in secret, for example, and the moment of their first tender encounter is already over. The plot resolutely moves towards the final catastrophe. Here, however, the young composer gave his audience perhaps the most moving final scene the operatic repertoire had offered until that time: Romeo and Juliet are permitted to die together. The fact that Bellini, pressed for time, used several numbers from his Zaira, can no longer be heard in this work. The opera is all of a piece and already thrilled the audience at the première with its wistful cantilenas pointing to another world, ardent choruses and colourful orchestration. The successful première was also due to the fact that Bellini had Giuditta Grisi, one of the most important mezzo-sopranos of the time, at his disposal. It was therefore not incongruous that he should have cast a woman as Romeo – particularly as her female voice seemed made to interpret the role of the loving hero. For our new production, we were able to engage the first-class mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato; at her side, the Romanian Anita Hartig will be introducing herself as Giulietta. Following La Straniera, General Music Director Fabio Luisi and director Christof Loy continue their Bellini cycle with this poignant bel canto work.

More information is available on the operahouse's official website.