Across five acts, numerous powerful arias, duets and choruses, Gounod’s 1867 opera Romeo et Juliette is both a marvel and a marathon to behold.
The original play itself already stands as a heightened emotional experience, but the conversion into opera takes the passion and heartbreak to another realm entirely.
Leads Alasdair Kent (Romeo) and Samantha Clarke (Juliette) are captivating as they navigate the weighty emotional arcs of their characters. Their performances feel so pure and responsive to the action at hand that I could almost forget the tragedy set to unfold. The avid audience response at the end of each aria and act was evidence enough of why both singers have established themselves as respected artists across Australia and internationally.
Samatha Clarke is Juliette and Alasdair Kent is Romèo image by West Beach Studio
It’s exciting to see the continuous development of young artists through WA Opera’s various programs, with two such artists being Benjamin Del Borrello as Mercutio and Ruth Burke as Stephano. Both of them revelled in their characters’ comical sides as taunting and playful Montagues, as evidenced in ‘Mab, la reine des mensonges’. Act three brought forth the fire within both performers, with controlled yet impassioned vocal performances.
The set and costume design had moments of brilliance, particularly in creating striking focal points in Juliette’s bedroom and the Capulet tomb. Stars also revealed themselves throughout the set each time Roméo and Juliette embraced. At times, I found the design disconnected from the story and couldn’t quite place what world we were in. The grand ball felt lacklustre despite some eccentric choices.
Fiona Campbell is Gertrude image by West Beach Studio
The opera remains an incredible spectacle and a display of otherworldly talent, and this production of Roméo et Juliette is no exception. I encourage those feeling fatigued by the rise of artificial intelligence, particularly within “art”, to turn to the opera to reconnect with what it means to be human.
Roméo et Juliette presented by the West Australian Opera is on at His Majesty’s Theatre from 15-24 October.