Defying expectations, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis offers one of the most delightful opera experiences in the world. A highlight of the 2026 festival season? Romeo and Juliet. From the moment they meet at a masquerade ball, Romeo and Juliet are swept into a love as fierce as it is forbidden. Defying a generations-old feud, the young lovers swear to be together — no matter the costs. They marry in secret, clinging to the hope that love might conquer all. For one fleeting, breathless week, they steal moments in the shadows, even as tragedy gathers at the gates. But love cannot escape fate, however unbearable it might be. Gounod’s lush, romantic score brings new emotion to this tragic tale of young love. All Opera Theatre of Saint Louis performances are sung in English and accompanied by the Grammy Award-winning St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. “We believe that opera can be accessible to everyone,” Andrew Jorgensen, general director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, says. “We prioritize compelling music as well as transformational theatrics, and our pre- and post-show traditions add to the joy, excitement and fun – because that’s what an evening at the theater should be!”
