The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the summer encore of the Met Opera’s “Roméo et Juliette” (from the 2023-24 season) on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.

Two singers at the height of their powers — soprano Nadine Sierra and tenor Benjamin Bernheim — come together as the star-crossed lovers in Gounod’s Shakespeare adaptation, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium to conduct one of the repertoire’s most romantic scores.

Bartlett Sher’s staging also features baritone Will Liverman and tenor Frederick Ballentine as the archrivals Mercutio and Tybalt, mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey as the mischievous pageboy Stéphano, and bass-baritone Alfred Walker as Frère Laurent.

ACT I
Verona, 18th century. A feud has been raging for generations between the Capulets and Montaigus. Juliette, Capulet’s daughter, has been promised to Count Pâris, but she is not interested in marriage. At a masked ball at her father’s house, she meets Roméo, a Montaigu, and the two fall instantly in love.

ACT II
That night, Roméo comes to Juliette’s balcony, and they reassure each other of their love.

ACT III
Roméo meets Juliette at Frère Laurent’s cell. Hoping their love might reconcile their families, he marries them. A street fight breaks out. Tybalt, Juliette’s cousin, challenges Roméo’s friend Mercutio. Roméo steps between them, but when Tybalt kills Mercutio, he stabs Tybalt to death in revenge. The Duke of Verona exiles Roméo from the city.

ACT IV
After spending a secret wedding night with Juliette, Roméo leaves Verona. When Capulet declares that Juliette is to marry Pâris that same day, Frère Laurent gives her a potion to make her appear dead. He promises she will wake with Roméo beside her. On the way to the chapel, Juliette collapses.

ACT V
Roméo breaks into the Capulets’ crypt and, faced with Juliette’s seemingly dead body, takes poison. At that moment, Juliette awakens, and they share a final dream of happiness. Then, she decides to follow him. The lovers die asking God for forgiveness.

The 2025 Met Opera Summer Encores are generously sponsored by Chris Fladlien.

“Roméo et Juliette” from the Metropolitan Opera will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 general admission, or $13 for Film Festival members. Tickets are available in advance at the Sedona International Film Festival office or by calling 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information and to order tickets online, visit www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.