Napoleon’s Opera

Who has not been moved by the love story of Romeo and Juliet? Napoleon, the great military leader with a little-known passion for the arts and Italian opera, was no exception. Nicolò Balducci and Juliette Mey reunite the outstanding duo formed by the castrato Crescentini and the admired Grassini in this opera by Zingarelli.

Napoleon’s enthusiasm for opera was extreme. Captivated by Romeo and Juliet, 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 illuminated the evenings of the Imperial Chapel at the Tuileries alongside Grassini, appointed First Singer to His Majesty the Emperor — and his mistress. Napoleon’s musical passion lay in Italian opera; 143 concerts by Italian soloists at court between 1810 and 1815 bear witness to this.

The signature work of Grassini and Crescentini was Zingarelli’s Giulietta e Romeo, premiered at La Scala in 1796 and performed many times in Paris before Napoleon by his two favourite singers. “They inspire heroism in me,” Napoleon is said to have declared. This star duo of the Empire is brought back to life by Nicolò Balducci and Juliette Mey in a revival of Zingarelli’s long-forgotten opera, which nevertheless enjoyed great success across Europe for three decades thanks to its sumptuous bel canto: this is Napoleon’s Opera !

Opera Royal Production / Château de Versailles Spectacles / Les Productions de l’Opéra Royal.

CD and DVD available from the Château de Versailles Spectacles collection.

The Centre de musique baroque de Versailles provides its set collection designed by Antoine Fontaine.

Costumes were created by Atelier Caraco – Paris.

Sets were built by Jipanco & Cie and Arthur Lamon.

Napoleon’s Favourite Opera

Opera in three acts with a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa, premiered at La Scala in Milan in 1796.

Sung in Italian.

Performance in Italian, with surtitles in French and English.

First part : 50 minutes

Intermission

Second part : 1 hour

PRESTIGE VIP CATEGORY : Best seats in house, you will receive a complimentary programme and a glass of champagne.

PRESTIGE CATEGORY : Excellent seats, you will receive a complimentary programme and a glass of champagne.

CORPORATE GROUP RATE : for more information, please refer to our page dedicated to works councils and groups.

REDUCED GROUP RATE : available for groups of more than 10 people, excluding corporate offers.

In case of any technical problem, the box office service remains available to complete your order by phone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89 (Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm) or in our box office-shop (3 bis rue des Réservoirs, 78000 Versailles ; Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm, and on Saturdays with concerts or shows except during the Musical Fountains Shows, from 2pm to 5pm).

To ensure the best welcome possible, people with limited mobility are advised to book their seats by telephone.