January 14, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brooding Bellini masterpiece staged as pulse-pounding political thriller.
PHILADELPHIA – Jan. 14, 2026 – The Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) continues its 91st Opera Season with Vincenzo Bellini’s Shakespeare-inspired jewel, I Capuleti e i Montecchi, marking the opera’s debut on the AVA stage. This production opens February 28, 2026, with performances through March 7, 2026. The opera also marks the AVA debuts of conductor Michelle Rofrano, who will lead the AVA Orchestra, and stage director John de los Santos.
This production continues AVA’s tradition of teaching and building operatic singing technique through the presentation of bel canto operas. I Capuleti e i Montecchi also provides an opportunity for their Resident Artists to sing and study the music of Bellini, who is rarely performed at AVA, and to expand their knowledge and refine performance skills. This opera offers excellent vocal experience for the two casts, especially for AVA’s mezzo-sopranos and tenors, which is an important consideration in the overall balance of the operatic season.
At the center of the opera lies the bloody political rivalry between the Capuleti and Montecchi families, with less emphasis on the love story between Romeo and Giulietta. De los Santos places the production in late 16th-century France during the French Wars of Religion, historically paralleling the Capuleti and Montecchi families with the power-hungry Catholic aristocracy and the rebellious Protestant Huguenots, respectively.
The physical setting, a ruined Roman palace, symbolizes the destruction of both local community and shared history as the two families war against each other, indifferent to the cost. De los Santos’ vision shines through in the production’s wardrobe, making full use of late Renaissance and early modern fashion styles, from grand lace collars and ruffs to opulent dresses and glittering jewelry, to display the characters’ power and prestige.
“This production places the audience inside a world already destroyed by political violence, where the clash between the Capuleti and Montecchi families has erased any sense of shared past or future,” explains de los Santos. “I was interested in what happens when politics overwhelms both communal and private life, and love becomes dangerous simply because it exists.”
Composed by Vincenzo Bellini with a libretto by Felice Romani, I Capuleti e i Montecchi first premiered at Venice’s Teatro La Fenice in March 1830. The opera reimagines Shakespeare’s famed story of Romeo and Juliet as a tragic political conflict between warring factions rather than a simple family feud. Since its debut, I Capuleti e i Montecchi has been staged in opera houses around the world and remains one of Bellini’s most beloved operas.
Conductor Michelle Rofrano adds her perspective on the production. “I Capuleti e i Montecchi explores how conflict between families and political factions blinds individuals to what is good and human, with the older generation actively fueling hatred that poisons the lives of the young. Bellini’s music and Romani’s libretto give voice to the tragic consequences of division, reminding us that when leaders prioritize prejudice and violence. I believe this message is a reminder we need to continue to hear.”
I Capuleti e i Montecchi Performance Dates
February 28; March 3, 5, and 7, 2026
7:30 PM
AVA’s Helen Corning Warden Theater
Michelle Rofrano’s appearance is generously underwritten by Sheila Kessler.
Tickets: Tickets for I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Season Subscriptions are now available to the public. For more information, visit avaopera.org or call (215) 735-1685.
About the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA)
The mission of the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) is to be the world’s premier institution for training young artists to become international opera soloists. Through rigorous instruction and coaching, and by presenting Resident Artists from around the world in concerts, oratorios, public programs, and fully staged professional opera productions, AVA prepares artists with high potential for career success while enriching lives in Philadelphia and beyond.
Each year, AVA Resident Artists are presented in four or five fully staged opera productions accompanied by orchestra and are cast in leading roles they will likely perform throughout their careers. Learn more at avaopera.org.
More information about AVA, its programs, and season performances can be found at avaopera.org or by calling (215) 735-1685.
Contact:
Andrew Rohe
Marketing & PR Manager
Academy of Vocal Arts
1920 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 735-1685
Email: arohe@avaopera.org
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