Think you know Romeo & Juliet? Think again.

Welcome to CODA! Coda comes from the latin word for “tail,” and in music, it indicates an additional passage at the end of a piece of music, a final flourish that compliments what’s come before. CODA goes beyond the curtain call to explore this unique and astonishing art form. Whether you’re a first-time opera goer or a seasoned audience member, CODA is for you. Bi-weekly, we’ll enhance your experience of this opera with behind-the-scenes highlights, educational articles, listening lists, and much, much more!?

Few names in literature are as well-known or as influential as William Shakespeare. Even if you know none of his other plays or poems, you have probably heard the story of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet acts as many people’s introduction to Shakespeare, and what can speak to all of us more than the manic joy and danger of young love? No single work has inspired more adaptations than Romeo and Juliet; in classical music alone there are nearly 20 operas, multiple ballets, and many orchestral and choral works based on the tale of the star-crossed lovers. While the basic story remains the same, each work offers their own unique interpretation.?

This week, to celebrate our upcoming production of Gounod’s Romeo & Juliet, we are celebrating Shakespeare’s play and the many adaptations of his masterpiece. Keep reading to see four of our favorite versions of this classic tale.

West Side Story (1957) - Leonard Bernstein

One of the most well-known reworkings of Romeo and Juliet, Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story moves the action from 16th century Verona to 1950’s New York City. While the piece was originally intended to be about Jews and Catholics, librettist Stephen Sondheim pits the white Jets (standing in for the Montagues) against the Puerto Rican Sharks (the Capulets). The dark theme, sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and focus on real-life social problems marked a major turning point in musical theater. West Side Story highlights the experience of immigrants, and reflects on how poverty and crime can fuel racial and ethnic prejudice.?

Bernstein's groundbreaking score for West Side Story blends jazz, Latin rhythms, symphonic writing, and musical comedy. Bernstein was determined to avoid the operatic style in this piece, despite the drama, insisting "not to cast ‘singers’: anything that sounded more professional would inevitably sound more experienced, and then the ‘kid’ quality would be gone." Bernstein’s musical language alongside Sondheim’s brilliant libretto resulted in a wholly original and influential work of art, inspiring performances from high schools to Broadway, dozens of recordings, and two award-winning movie adaptations.

Romeo i Dzhuletta (1935) - Sergei Prokofiev

Romeo i Dzhuletta was controversial long before the public heard a single note. After a first reading of the score, the directors of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow pronounced it “impossible to dance to.” In a rage, composer Sergei Prokofiev released two suites from the ballet, hoping that the public would demand a performance. It worked. Ballet patrons demanded to hear the work in its entirety. Still more controversy came when it was discovered that Prokofiev and his director decided to give it a happy ending, with Romeo arriving early enough to find Juliet alive and well. The reason? “Living people can dance, the dying cannot.” Pressure from both the Bolshoi and? Stalin’s government made Prokofiev reinstate the tragic ending.

Despite the drama behind the scenes, Romeo i Dzhuletta was popular in Prokofiev’s lifetime and remains one of the most beloved ballets in the repertoire. Prokofiev’s score displays a lush musical language tinged with darkness. He uses sweeping romantic themes for the lovers and angular and rhythmic music for the warring families, adding dark foreshadowing throughout the piece. Prokofiev pulled three orchestra suites from the original two and a half hour work, as well as a suite for piano, giving us multiple opportunities to experience this masterwork.??

Romeo + Juliet (1996) - Baz Luhrmann

Romeo and Juliet has inspired over a dozen English-language movies, but for many of us none looms larger than Baz Luhrmann’s energetic 1996 adaptation. Twenty-five years after its premiere, Romeo + Juliet’s mark as the Romeo and Juliet of Gen X, Gen Y, and even Gen Z has not been diminished, despite the wealth of Shakespeare films released since then. The 1990s were not devoid of Shakespeare adaptations (The Lion King, 10 Things I Hate About You, 5 adaptations from Kenneth Branaugh), but Romeo + Juliet was one of the first to marry Shakespeare’s language with a present-day setting on film. While this is commonplace today, it was a big risk in 1996, and it paid off.?

If you haven’t seen Romeo + Juliet in a while, you’ll find that it holds up beautifully. It’s a film about youth for the young, from the fast cuts and dizzying camera work, to the vibrant costume and set design, to the hot-blooded line delivery. It’s no accident that Romeo + Juliet is still a favorite of English teachers everywhere, and it acts as many young people’s first exposure to Shakespeare. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the amazing soundtrack. Featuring hits like “Lovefool” and memorable bands like Garbage and Everclear, it’s a perfect 90s time capsule.?

Romeo & Juliet (1867) - Charles Gounod

We could never forget Charles Gounod’s breathtaking opera! Fresh off a massive success with Faust, Gounod made the decision to set another classic tale with Romeo & Juliet. Gounod, alongside his librettists Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, put much of the political and courtly intrigue found in Shakespeare’s play to the side, putting the focus on the young lovers. Gounod worked feverishly on the piece, going into what he called “confinement” and completing the work in under a year. Despite some bumps in the road (trouble finding a leading tenor and a last-minute recomposition of the final act), Romeo & Juliet was an instant success, and remains a popular programming choice by the world’s greatest opera houses.?

The opera unfolds with a whopping four love duets for the ill-fated pair, an unprecedented amount of l’amour, even for French opera. Each more breathtaking than the last, these duets perfectly evoke the moments when the world seems to stand still. The consequences and danger of their union are blurred into the background, and you are swept away right along with Romeo and Juliette. The opera remains largely true to the plot of the original, apart from the final scene in the tomb. In Gounod’s version, the doomed couple share a moment of consciousness long enough for one final duet. Add in a fiery waltz, sweeping arias, and some of Gounod’s most lyrical music, and it’s easy to see why audiences continue to love Romeo & Juliet.?

We invite you to get lost in the beauty, romance, and tragedy of this unforgettable opera, free on the Boston Common! In partnership with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, our new English-language production presents a new vision of the classic tale. Stars Vanessa Becerra and Ricardo Garcia lead a cast of exciting artists in what will be a dreamy evening of music under the stars. Join us for Romeo & Juliet on August 11th and 13th, and for our thrilling 2022/23 season!

What would you like to see in CODA? Let us know in the comments!?

Want to learn more? Sign up for our mailing list to stay up-to-date on all things BLO.

Save 20% when you become a BLO subscriber! Click here for more information.