The Tenerife Auditorium lifts the curtain this Sunday, 15th March, to debut a new production of Roméo et Juliette, the opera by Charles Gounod based on Shakespeare’s tragedy. There will be four performances on the 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st at 7:30 PM, showcasing a proposal that merges lyricism, drama, and a contemporary perspective on generational conflict.
Leading Roles
Featuring in the cast are Tenerife tenor Airam Hernández and Navarre soprano Sofía Esparza, portraying the most famous lovers in literary history. This version transcends classical romanticism, highlighting the tension between inherited hatred and youthful rebellion.
A Theatre Within a Theatre
Stage director André Heller-Lopes transports the action to a 19th-century Parisian theatre with golden balconies, including the iconic partially restored balcony of Juliette. This imagery serves as a metaphor, representing an opulent past that requires reinterpretation by a new generation.
The production is set between the 1960s and 1970s, reinforcing the clash between adults clinging to patriarchal structures and youths determined to break free from familial grudges through love. The scenery by Renato Theobaldo, lighting by Gonzalo Córdova, and costumes by Sofia di Nunzio create a visually striking contrast between light and darkness.
Furthermore, the production includes an educational component, with students from three Canary Islands schools (IES La Orotava-Manuel González Pérez, IES Mencey Acaymo of Güímar, and CIFP Tony Gallardo) participating in the construction of stage elements.
A Stellar Cast with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra
In addition to Hernández and Esparza, the cast includes bass-baritone Simón Orfila as Frère Laurent, baritone Fernando Campero as Mercutio, Christina Campsall as Stéphano, and Belén Elvira as Gertrude, among other soloists.
Musical direction is led by José Luis Gómez, at the helm of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, while the Ópera de Tenerife-Intermezzo choir is directed by Miguel Ángel Arqued. A dance company from the International Centre of Dance Tenerife also participates, enhancing the production’s visual impact.
More Than a Love Story
Gounod’s music, which fuses Italian lyricism with French elegance, intensifies a reading that focuses on intergenerational conflict. The orchestra and choir not only accompany the action but drive it forward, emphasising the contrast between the structural violence of the adult world and the purity of youthful sentiment.
Tickets can be purchased through the Tenerife Auditorium website, at the box office, or over the phone. Additionally, the Cabildo maintains the Lanzadera Ópera initiative, providing free transport on TITSA buses from Adeje and Buenavista to facilitate attendance at the performances.
