Maillot's Roméo et Juliette marks 30 years with sold-out performances
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Jean-Christophe Maillot's acclaimed Roméo et Juliette returned to Monte-Carlo Opera for four sold-out performances in late October, celebrating three decades since its 1996 premiere.
Jean-Christophe Maillot's Roméo et Juliette, created for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in 1996, returned to the Opéra de Monte-Carlo for four sold-out performances from 29 October to 1 November, marking three decades since its landmark premiere. The production has become one of the company's defining works, built around a Juliette who is written as wilful and independent rather than simply a tragic ingenue. The full houses confirmed the enduring appeal of this reinterpretation of Shakespeare's tragedy.
Backstage, Bernice Coppieters, who originated the role three decades ago, worked alongside Juliette Klein, the dancer now carrying it into this anniversary run. Their conversations traced how the character shifts with each interpreter while keeping Maillot's central idea intact: a young woman who chooses her own path rather than simply succumbing to fate.
For Monaco's cultural calendar, the revival reinforced how Maillot's vision continues to resonate with audiences, proving that innovative choreography can sustain relevance across generations of dancers and spectators alike.