Romeo+Juliet Opera

2018–2019 academic year: the tragic power of love

Romeo+Juliet Opera

May 27-28-29, 2019, 9:00 PM
Luiss Guido Carli, Giardini dell'Università, Viale Pola, 12 – Rome

Due to adverse weather conditions, the premiere has been postponed to Tuesday, May 28, with performances on Wednesday, May 29, and Thursday, May 30, at the Giardini dell'Università at 9:00 PM.

Admission is free upon online registration via the Luiss events calendar (form now closed)

Romeo + Juliet Opera
based on William Shakespeare
adapted and directed by Ferdinando Ceriani
Assistant director, vocals, and choreography by Alice Guidi
Music by Queen

We all know the story of Romeo and Juliet. The tragic ending is revealed to us by a chorus right at the start of the tragedy. Yet, when we read it or see it performed on stage or on the big screen, we always hope that something will change, that Juliet will wake up just a few seconds before Romeo drinks the vial of poison. Why? What is it about this work that captivates and deceives us every time? The original title, with its superlatives “The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet,” offers a key clue to understanding its enduring appeal: this is a story not for the faint of heart. It unfolds in bursts that encapsulate life’s many facets. Love is not just love, but something more powerful, more absolute, just as hatred defies any logic of power or self-interest. Yes, it is a tragedy, but it also offers the audience hilarious, grotesque, and “rough” moments (as Peter Brook would say), which we have given space and development to in our staging. But laughter in no way diminishes the tragic power of the story—quite the opposite. The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet's deaths is all the more powerful precisely because, just moments before, the sun still seemed to shine over the rooftops of Verona!

Our reinterpretation draws on two sources of inspiration: Baz Luhrmann’s beautiful film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, and the music of Queen, which fits perfectly with Shakespeare’s dramaturgy and is performed live by our young actors through song and dance. And now, all that remains is for us to prepare once again to bring this story to life, with the naive belief that—who knows—perhaps this time, our lovers will manage to crown their love… perhaps.

Ferdinando Ceriani