Winter Opera Saint Louis concluded its 19th season with an admirable production of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette.

Gounod and his librettists, Jules Barbier and Michel Carré sensibly condensed the story. They omitted the initial street brawl and several characters in the original. The opening scene is at the Capulet’s ball, and Mercutio goes on about Queen Mab at the ball rather than before it. Roméo and Juliette are the only characters in the final scene, and they survive long enough to sing one more duet.

The result of the trimming is stronger focus on the young lover’s emotional journey. This emphasis suited the performers at Winter Opera, Taylor Comstock as Roméo and Megan Barrera as Juliette. In addition to singing beautifully, they projected an apposite youthfulness and deep feelings in their portrayals.

Kenneth Stavert captured Mercutio’s high spirits. Marc Schapman was a menacing Tybalt. Stavert and Schapman were fierce antagonists in the duel, which convincingly depicted Roméo’s fateful intervention. Jacob Lassetter was a formidable Capulet

The production featured fine work, too, by Nathan Whitson as Frere Laurent, Emily Moore as Gertrude, Eli Panek as The Duke, Raphaella Medina as Stephano, Joel Rogier as Count Paris, Thomas M. Taylor IV as Benvolio, and Fitzgerald St. Louis as Gregorio.

The orchestra and chorus performed beautifully under conductor Edward Benyas and chorus master Scott Schoonover. Benyas had the measure of the score and nicely balanced the voices and the orchestra.

Stage director John Stephens brought clarity to the story and marshalled his force adroitly. Scott Loebl’s scenic design had five doors, a balcony, and plenty of flexibility. Small changes in Michael Sullivan’s lighting and Laura Skroska’s props gave the set strikingly different looks. Jen Blum-Tatara’s costumes, Dennis Milam Bensie’s wigs, and Aaliyah Burton’s makeup placed the staging firmly in the Renaissance.

For its 20th season, Winter Opera has chosen an American musical, a German singspiel, and Italian grand opera. The works to be presented are Frank Loesser’s sung-through musical, The Most Happy Fella (November 2026), Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail (January 2027), and Puccini’s Turandot (March 2027).

—Gerry Kowarsky

Photo by Dan Donovan Photography
The ensemble in Roméo et Juliette.