Zingarelli : Roméo et Juliette

Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli (1752-1837) Roméo et Juliette Napoleon’s Favourite Opera Napoleon’s Opera Who hasn't been moved by the love story of Roméo et Juliette?

Niccolò Antonio Zingarelli (1752-1837)

Roméo et Juliette

Napoleon’s Favourite Opera

Napoleon’s Opera

Who hasn't been moved by the love story of Roméo et Juliette? Napoleon, that great man of war, with an unknown passion for the arts and Italian opera, was no exception! Nicolò Balducci and Juliette Mey recreate the formidable duo of the castrato Crescentini and the adored Grassini in this opera by Zingarelli. Napoleon's fervour for opera was extreme. Conquered by the opera Roméo et Juliette, this great music lover brought to his side a young Italian star, the contralto Giuseppina Grassini, and the most dazzling castrato: Girolamo Crescentini, the only singer to move the Emperor to tears. Invited to France from 1806 to 1812, Crescentini graced the glorious evenings of the Chapelle Impériale at the Tuileries in the company of Grassini, named First Singer to His Majesty the Emperor – and his mistress. Napoleon's musical passion lay with Italian opera, as evidenced by one hundred and forty-three concerts by Italian soloists at Court between 1810 and 1815! The showpiece for Grassini and Crescentini was Zingarelli's opera Giulietta e Romeo, premiered at La Scala in 1796, then performed many times in Paris before Napoleon by his two favourite singers. “They inspire heroism in me,” Napoleon said. This star duo of the Empire comes back to life with Nicolò Balducci and Juliette Mey, the resurrection of this completely forgotten opera by Zingarelli, which triumphed throughout Europe for three decades, thanks to its sumptuous bel canto: this is Napoleon's Opera!