Here from the iconic Verona arena is Charles Gounod s masterpiece Romo Juliette, performed there for the first time since 1977. This new production was entrusted to Italian director Francesco Micheli, making his arena debut, who opted for a personal, highly original version: An arena within the Arena, like a blood-red Elizabethan theatre. A senescent world that will not let its own children live. Juliette is sung by Georgian soprano Nino Machaidze, in a return to one of her early roles at the Salzburg Festival. Stefano Secco, often heard at the Opra Bastille in Paris and other international venues, is Romo. Artur Rucinski interprets Mercutio, Romeo s friend and the rival of Jean-Franois Borras s Tybalt. The page Stphano is sung by soprano Ketevan Kemoklidze. The Orchestra and Chorus of the Arena di Verona are conducted by Fabio Mastrangelo. Nino Machaidze [Juliette], Ketevan Kemoklidze [Stephano], Cristina Melis [Gertrude], Stefano Secco [Romo], Jean-Franois Borras [Tybalt], Paolo Antognetti [Benvolio] Artur Rucinski [Mercutio], Nicolo Ceriani [Paris], Giampiero Ruggeri [Gregorio], Manrico Signorini [Capulet], Giorgio Giuseppini [Frre Laurent], Deyan Vatchkov [Le Duc de Vrone] Orchestra, Coro e Corpo di Ballo della Fondazione Arena di Verona / Fabio Mastrangelo Direction FRANCESCO MICHELI, Set design EDOARDO SANCHI, Costumes SILVIA AYMONINO, Choreography NIKOS LAGOUSAKOS, Lighting PAOLO MAZZON Filmed in High Definition at the Verona Arena, 08/2011