In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, the Atlanta Ballet joined the Cathedral Choral Society for a dramatic rendering of Roméo and Juliette, a choral symphony by French composer Hector Berlioz. The performance on Saturday, October 22, 2022, featured world-premiere choreography by Claudia Schreier, choreographer in residence at the Atlanta Ballet.
In Roméo and Juliette, Berlioz used two choruses to portray the warring Montagues and Capulets. Soloists play the characters of Mercutio, Friar Lawrence, and a commentator. The orchestra embodies the roles of Romeo and Juliet. Berlioz felt that the young couple’s love was too sublime for words and could only be represented through the power of instrumental music. Dancers from the Atlanta Ballet performed on the 24-foot stage during the orchestral interludes, offering insights into the characters of Romeo and Juliet from different perspectives.
