The Met was taking no chances with the role of Juliette in this telecast of Gounod’s opera as its host was Ailyn Perez who probably is the best Juliette in the world. If needed she could have stepped into the title female role in no more time than it takes to get into a costume. She was a charming host who asked a lot of semi goofy questions. But so winning and charming is her personality and demeanor that it didn’t matter. I hope they bring her back.

This production, by Bartlett Sher, is new to the Met though its origin goes back to La Scala in 2008. It’s time is moved from renaissance Verona to the 18th century. Actually, the costumes looked more appropriate to Venice than Verona. As is typical with time shifting in opera, the change added nothing to the opera’s realization. All the action took place in what appeared a piazza surrounded by greyish nondescript buildings. This arrangement allowed the action to run smoothly from scene to scene. The sword fights were brilliantly choreographed by BH Barry.

Of course, this opera depends on its two eponymous characters. Vittorio Grigolo’s Roméo is suffused with passion and ardor. His acting is by operatic standards exceptionally good. He’s good looking and athletic. He climbed Juliette’s balcony with Errol Flynn-like abandon. He even picked up Ms Damrau during the curtain calls and carried her around the stage. Quite a feat considering her somewhat stout figure and his relatively short stature. His singing is as ardent as his persona. Though he doesn’t have the lush sound best suited to this role, he was clearly the star of the afternoon. But a cautionary note is needed. I do not think that his voice is properly placed and that this explains the too open tones that he too often produces and the unneeded stress he places on his voice. He should consider the vocal fate of Giuseppe Di Stefano. See him while you can.

Ms Damrau’s Juliette was acted as well as can be expected of a matronly women about 30 years older than the character she was portraying. This run of Roméo et Juliette was the first time she’s sung the role. Her singing was problematic. She did not make much of Juliette’s Waltz Song in the first act. Throughout the first half of the opera, which was given with just one intermission, she sounded like she did not have enough voice for the part. She was in much better shape during the second half especially during the emotionally drenched final two scenes of the opera. I know comparisons are odious, etc – but Ailyn Perez crushed the part in Santa Fe last Summer.

The remaining roles were sung with elan by all the cast except for Diego Silva’s Tybalt. His vocal production was weak and unsteady. Laurent Naouri was very good as the headstrong leader of the Capulets who pushed his daughter to destruction. Of particular notice was the Korean baritone Jeongcheol Cha who managed to make something out of the small part of Grégorio. He’s due to sing Masetto in the Met’s upcoming Don Giovanni. He has a bright an solid sound which suggests better things are ahead for him.

This production was also maestro Gianandrea Noseda’s first chance at Roméo. He got all the passion and beauty out of Gounod’s lustrous score. If you missed this go around be sure to catch the opera when it gets to PBS.

Finally, Gary Halvorson found his endoscopic camera again. There were too many closeup shots of profusely sweating singers. Gary, back up!

Metropolitan Opera House
January 21, 2017 Telecast

ROMÉO ET JULIETTE
Charles Gounod-Jules Barbier/Michel Carré/William Shakespeare

Roméo……………….Vittorio Grigolo
Juliette…………….Diana Damrau
Frère Laurent………..Mikhail Petrenko
Stéphano…………….Virginie Verrez
Mercutio…………….Elliot Madore
Benvolio…………….Tony Stevenson
Gertrude…………….Diana Montague
Capulet……………..Laurent Naouri
Tybalt………………Diego Silva
Pâris……………….David Crawford
Grégorio…………….Jeongcheol Cha
Duke of Verona……….Oren Gradus

Conductor……………Gianandrea Noseda

Production…………..Bartlett Sher
Set Designer…………Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer……..Catherine Zuber
Lighting designer…….Jennifer Tipton
Choreographer………..Chase Brock
Fight Director……….B. H. Barry
TV Director………….Gary Halvorson