Over the centuries, Romeo and Juliet has inspired all kinds of music. There are songs, symphonic poems, Broadway musicals and film scores. There are hundreds of Shakespeare operas, and a couple of dozen based on Romeo and Juliet. But, astonishingly, of those hundreds only a few are still "in the repertory."  Of all the Romeo and Juliet operas, there's really only one true "hit," and it is Gounod’s. Experience him at his best as his Romeo and Juliet is filled with great choral music, fabulous melodies, and exciting drama that combine to bring the familiar Shakespeare love tragedy to life. 

Soprano Amanda Pabyan (Metropolitan Opera/New York City Opera/Glimmerglass Opera) will make her Syracuse Opera debut as Juliet.  Mezzo-soprano Katie Calcamuggio will make her Syracuse Opera debut as Stephano along with Syracuse Opera favorite,  baritone Jimi James (Rigoletto, Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro) as Count Capulet.  Director Marc Astafan will make his Syracuse Opera debut along with Syracuse Opera’s Director of Music Douglas Kinney Frost, who will conduct the Syracuse Opera Chorus and Syracuse Symphony Orchestra.

Synopsis:
The young Romeo and Juliet fall in love and ignore the fact that their families are feuding. Friar Laurence, touched by their love, marries the couple without anyone knowing. But when Mercutio prompts Romeo to slay Juliet's cousin Tybalt, the recent groom is banished from Verona. Attempting to fix this dilemma, Friar Laurence advises Juliet to drink a potion that will make her appear dead. This plan backfires tragically, as Romeo believes Juliet has indeed died and, in grief, drinks a fatal potion.

The ending of Gounod's opera is the one scene that differs significantly from Shakespeare's play. When Juliet awakens, Romeo is still alive. The lovers have one last encounter—and one final duet—before Romeo dies and Juliet follows suit.