I’m actually not sure where to start with Stephen Lawless’ production of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette recorded at the Liceu in 2018.  The production is a bit weird but then so is the libretto.  It follows the basic plot of Shakespeare’s play but weakens it dramatically in all the wrong places which appears to be why Lawless made some of his, to my mind, less felicitous decisions.

The basic setting appears to be the United States in the 1860s judging by the costumes.  I suppose we are somehow supposed to see the Montagues and Capulets as the two sides in the civil war; though this is not explicit, but, if we are, it makes no sense.  The point of the play is that the feud is utterly pointless.  That’s one thing that can’t be said about the war between the states.  But it does make for glam costumes which presumably pleased the marketing department.  The basic set, used throughout, is what i think is known as a “columbarium”; basically a large set of drawers set into the wall containing coffins with the occupants name on the door.  It’s like a giant advent calendar of death.  FWIW the names are very American and many of them died quite young.

Within this basic frame the whole piece plays out.  It’s mostly pretty straightforward though there are some interpolations and oddities.  At the beginning of Act 3 we are in a military hospital with Frère Laurent administering last rites to the dying before uniting the two overs.  Then for some reason the whole Stéphano teasing the Capulets (“Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle”) is played for laughs.  (So is the equivalent scene in the play but that’s actually funny.)  Two other weird and implausible changes are made to the plot; Juliette succumbs to Frère Laurent’s potion at the altar while she’s supposed to be marrying Paris.  Why that change?  And there’s no final reconciliation scene.  The opera ends with the death of the lovers so Lawless is moved to add a silent audience of Montagues and Capulets who symbolically lay down their swords at the end.  I get the point but an audience for two teenagers committing suicide is just creepy.

All in all though the production is OK and it provides the backdrop for some really good singing and acting.  Aida Garifullina is an excellent Juliette.  She has a very beautiful voice with excellent coloratura and she acts extremely well.  She plays “Je veux vivre” as if she’s a bit drunk which is both touching and quite funny and she does t without being in the least unmusical.  Saimir Pirgu is a perfect foil as Romé0.  He has an ardent, true tenor with genuine ringing high notes and he too can act.  Together they are terrific.  The “Ange adorable” duet is really nice.  They are also both up there in the eye candy stakes.

There are some good supporting performances.  I particularly liked the thoughtful, dignified Frère Laurent of Nicola Ulivieri. Rubén Amoretti also does a very nice job of portraying Capulet as a gentleman regretting his lost youth.  And if what lawless asks Tara Erraught to do is a bit weird, her Stéphano is very well sung.  To be honest I didn’t really see any weak links i the cast.  The chorus is also very good and the orchestra produces an exciting, full blooded sound for conductor Josep Pons.  Musically this recording is extremely satisfying.

It’s not an easy show to film.  It’s often very dark for example.  Benoit Toulemonde does a pretty good job.  He captures the sepulchral nature that prevails most of the time while also closing in appropriately on the lovers where that makes sense.  The picture is good enough on Blu-ray to cope with the darkness (just) and and the sound tracks (stereo and surround) are excellent.  There’s a decent booklet with a track listing, synopsis and an essay about the opera.  I would have liked director’s notes for this one though.  Subtitle options are English, French, German, Spanish, Catalan, Korean and Japanese.

There’s not a lot of competition for Roméo et Juliette.  There are a couple of DVD (no Blu-ray) versions featuring a young Roberto Alagna and there’s a Verona arena recording that’s quite spectacular but this new one has a better Juliette.

Catalogue number: C Major Blu-ray 764204