Washington National Opera
Romeo and Juliet
Opera House
Star-crossed lovers risk it all in Gounod’s passionate tragedy, featuring soaring music and exquisite duets.
Nov. 4 - 18, 2023
Genre
Opera
Runtime
2 Hours and 52 Minutes including one 25-Minute Intermission
WNO Season Sponsor
View Digital Program
Photo by Scott Suchman
Feuding families. Forbidden love. Doomed fate. So much is stacked against young Romeo and Juliet—and yet—love finds a way. Gounod’s opera is a grand and sweeping retelling of one of the most tragic love stories of all time. Everything you want from the captivating saga is here, from soaring music to exquisite duets to heart-stopping duels.
With Romeo and Juliet, WNO joins organizations across the Washington, D.C., region in Shakespeare Everywhere, an exciting festival celebrating the works of William Shakespeare. Simon Godwin, Artistic Director of Shakespeare Theatre Company, directs a phenomenal cast in his highly anticipated opera directorial debut. Even as their fate looms above them, you’ll root for this young couple and their ecstatic love that transcends life itself.
Act 1:
68 Minutes
Intermission:
25 Minutes
Act 2:
66 Minutes
Total Runtime:
2 Hours and 14 Minutes
_____________________________
Music by Charles Gounod / Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré after William Shakespeare’s play
In French with Projected English Titles
Composed 1867
The scenery and costumes for this production of Romeo and Juliet are co-produced by Glimmerglass Festival and Washington National Opera
WNO‘s Romeo and Juliet | Nov. 4 - 18, 2023
Adam Smith (Romeo) and Justin Austin (Mercutio) in Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Rosa Feola (Juliet) in Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Adam Smith (Romeo) in Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Rosa Feola (Juliet) and Adam Smith (Romeo) in Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Rosa Feola (Juliet) and Adam Smith (Romeo) in Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Scott Suchman.
A scene from Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Juliet
Mercutio
Gertrude
Tybalt
Grégorio
Conductor
Director
Frere Laurent & Duke of Verona
Tybalt
Mercutio
Stephano
Benvolio
Gertrude
Grégorio
Delve deeper as you take a peek inside the composer’s mind, behind the scenes of planning a production, and into the history and social context of the opera.
Free with a Romeo and Juliet ticket, starting 1 hour before every performance and lasting 25–30 minutes:
Nov. 4: WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello + Director Simon Godwin
Nov. 6, 10, 12 matinee, 15, 17 & 18: WNO Music Administrator Ken Weiss
Don’t miss your opportunity to engage directly with our artists and share your thoughts on the experience you just had! Here’s your chance to ask questions and get the inside scoop on the production from members of the cast and creative team.
Free with a Romeo and Juliet ticket, beginning immediately after the performance:
Nov. 6 & 12: WNO Director of Production Chelsea Dennis
Subscribing to a Kennedy Center WNO package provides you with the Best Seats, Maximum Flexibility, and Exclusive Savings!
Group of 20 or more? Group Sales offers special terms and discounts for most performances.
Help build a rich legacy on the values of artistic excellence, engagement with a broad community, and a thriving future for the art form of opera and its audiences.
All events and artists subject to change without prior notice.
All ticket prices are subject to change based on demand. Purchase early to lock in prices and the best seats!
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