NORMA / ROMEO AND JULIET

Guest Performance of the St. Petersburg Opera at the Madlenianum Stage

As part of the St. Petersburg Days in the Republic of Serbia, the ensemble of the St. Petersburg Opera will present two productions at the Madlenianum. Vincenzo Bellini’s opera NORMA will be performed on 14th May, followed on 15th May by the Serbian premiere of Charles Gounod’s opera ROMEO AND JULIET, which has never before been staged in Serbia in a full-staged version.

This guest performance is realised with the support of the Government of St. Petersburg, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Serbia, and Rossotrudnichestvo in Serbia, thereby confirming the high significance of this cultural exchange and its contribution to strengthening international humanitarian ties.

The director of both productions is Yuri Alexandrov, People's Artist of Russia, founder and artistic director of the St. Petersburg Opera, known for his original interpretations of the classical repertoire and his keen sense of the psychological depth of characters.

The operas Norma and Romeo and Juliet hold a special place in the repertoire of the St. Petersburg Opera. Both productions are regularly performed to sold-out houses and rank among the most sought-after titles.

This guest appearance marks their first performance abroad, the international premiere will take place precisely in Serbia, at the Opera and Theatre Madlenianum that holds a special place in the history of theatre guest performances and with which the St. Petersburg Opera shares a long-standing artistic collaboration.

The tour is given particular significance by the fact that Romeo and Juliet is the theatre’s most recent premiere (December 2025). Just a few months after its premiere in St. Petersburg, the production arrives in Belgrade as a Serbian premiere. This opera has never before been performed in Serbia in a complete staged form.

The Opera Norma is a tragic lyric drama, first performed in 1831. The plot takes place in Gaul under Roman rule and follows the fate of the priestess Norma, torn between her duty to her people and a forbidden love for the Roman proconsul. The opera is renowned for its expressive melodies and the aria Casta Diva, one of the pinnacles of the bel canto repertoire. In Yuri Alexandrov’s direction, the story acquires a contemporary resonance, and the heroine’s inner conflict is viewed through the universal themes of love, duty and sacrifice.

“In the ethereal quality of Norma’s melodies lies their divine power. These sounds act like celestial music, they do not address the intellect, but the soul, they reach the very heart and remain there forever. This is the composer’s highest skill, to make the soul tremble in harmony with simple yet perfect notes”, said Alexander Goikhman, conductor of the performance.

The opera Romeo and Juliet, based on William Shakespeare’s tragedy, stands as an independent musical work in which the poetry of emotion and the idea of love triumphing over enmity prevail. Its melodic richness and sincere lyricism have made it one of the most popular titles in the world opera repertoire. The St. Petersburg Opera’s production addresses contemporary audiences and establishes a living dialogue through universal values, fidelity, passion and the spiritual strength of man.

“In our production of Romeo and Juliet, we tell a deeply moving story of the love of two young people. The music here acquires a special, French character. The score is woven from the finest nuances, from pianissimo at the very threshold of silence. This music breathes the transience of time, the central motif of the performance. Our heroes have little time, as do we all. Yet they choose to devote it to love and this can be heard in the music with absolute clarity. It not only invites listening, it takes your breath away,” emphasised the conductor Maxim Valkov.

The Opera and Theatre Madlenianum in Zemun is a unique cultural institution in Southeast Europe. Founded in 1997 as the first private theatre in Serbia with a permanent opera ensemble, it today nurtures a repertoire that includes opera, ballet, drama, musicals and classical music concerts.

The year 2026 marks 20 years of collaboration between the two theatres. As a guest director, Yuri Alexandrov staged La Traviata and Pagliacci at the Madlenianum, productions that met with exceptional responses from audiences and critics alike. The ensemble of the St. Petersburg Opera has made several guest appearances in Serbia between 2017 and 2024, in connection with major cultural and historical anniversaries.

“For 20 years, we have shared a true creative brotherhood with the Madlenianum. Every arrival in Belgrade is a celebration for us. We feel how deeply the Russian and Serbian cultural roots are intertwined and how art becomes a bridge that needs no translation,” said Evgeniy Malygin, General Director of the theatre.

“These tours bring to Belgrade two powerful theatrical hits. Norma is an opera for true lovers of vocal art, while Roméo et Juliette, with its clear narrative and enchanting music, opens the door to new audiences as well. Its Serbian premiere gives this guest appearance a special significance,” added Vladimir Lavrukhin, head of press office at St. Petersburg Opera.

The State Chamber Music Theatre St. Petersburg Opera was founded in 1987 and enjoys a high reputation both in Russia and worldwide. Its founder and artistic director, Yuri Alexandrov, has collaborated with leading world stages such as the Arena di Verona, the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Bolshoi Theatre and the Mariinsky Theatre. In recent years, the ensemble has successfully toured France, Greece, Serbia, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, the UAE, China, Hungary and Indonesia.

Photos: Violeta Lazareva