The Teatro La Fenice hosts John Neumeier’s Romeo and Juliet, a debut that reaffirms the long-standing friendship between the renowned Hamburg Ballet and the Venetian theater. The German company, one of the most famous in the world, first performed in Venice in 1975 and has returned multiple times, with the latest performance in 2023 of La Dame aux camélias. Neumeier’s choreography, first presented in 1971 in Frankfurt, stands out for the intensity with which it explores the most human aspects of the protagonists, delving into their inner worlds and the psychological conflicts that shape the course of the story. The set design by Jürgen Rose, with its references to medieval Verona, provides the perfect backdrop for a choreographic action filled with passion and drama. The ballet does not merely tell the story of a tragic love; it investigates its essence, the tension between the desire for life and fatality. Prokofiev’s music, with its emotional power, perfectly complements the dance, alternating between lyrical and stormy moments that amplify the drama of the characters. In this version, the fusion of rich musical themes and Neumeier’s expressive choreography creates a visual and sonic magic that leaves a lasting impression.
