is an opera in two acts by Heinrich Sutermeister. The composer wrote the libretto, after Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Erik Levi explains that the opera: "presents a synthesis of Romantic and impressionist elements. It marks a ... return to the conception of opera as a sequence of closed forms, incorporating ... stylistic features related to madrigal, oratorio and pantomime."
It was first performed on 13 April 1940, at the Semperoper, Dresden, under the musical direction of Karl Böhm, who also commissioned the work, with Maria Cebotari as Julia, and was a considerable success. It was also performed at Sadler's Wells in London on 12 March 1953, conducted by James Robertson.
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 13 April 1940 (Conductor: Karl Böhm) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julia, daughter of the Capulets | soprano | Maria Cebotari | |
| Romeo, son of Montague | tenor | ||
| Balthasar, Romeo's servant | baritone | ||
| Nurse | soprano | Inger Karén | |
| Capuleti (Capulet) | bass | Kurt Böhme | |
| Countess Capuleti (Lady Capulet) | contralto | Helena Rott | |
| Father Lorenzo (Friar Laurence) | bass | Sven Nilsson | |
| Escalus, Prince of Verona | baritone | ||
| Servant | tenor | ||
| Montague, Romeo's father | spoken | ||
| Count Paris | ballerina |
Sutermeister's version follows Shakespeare's plot. In the final scene, a celestial chorus celebrate the union in death of the two lovers.
Sutermeister: Romeo und Julia – Bavarian Radio Chorus, Tölzer Knabenchor, Munich Radio Orchestra