The two had never sung together, yet in just a few minutes they found a shared rhythm that would carry through to their debut as opera’s newest couple: Juliette and Roméo in State Opera South Australia’s world-premiere production of Roméo et Juliette.
“It’s vital to build trust straight away,” Stagg says. “You have to be 100 per cent committed to that connection, even if you’ve only just met.”
For Stegall, who calls Adelaide home through an off-stage marriage to his wife Holly Stegall, Principal First Violin of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, that trust came easily.
Roméo is a man searching for belonging and Juliette is the answer to what’s missing within him.
Both artists make their role debuts under director Rodula Gaitanou, whose poetic vision sets the lovers “in a suspended space where young love feels fearless and limitless.”
Stagg is one of Australia’s most celebrated lyric sopranos, with performances at Covent Garden, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Deutsche Oper Berlin and Zürich Opera House. Born in Mildura and now based in Berlin, she returns to Australia almost every year to perform, describing it as “an exchange that keeps me creatively grounded.”
“My family live in Adelaide now, so it feels deeply personal,” she says. “And the Poison Aria, which is my favourite, shows Juliette’s transformation from innocence to courage. It’s stunning.”
Stegall, praised internationally for his clear-toned voice and poetic intelligence, has worked with renowned conductors including Masaaki Suzuki, Ian Bostridge and William Christie. The American-born tenor relocated to Adelaide with Holly and quickly became part of the city’s arts community. Between rehearsals, he unwinds with walks along the coast and says the opera’s story of youthful love still feels timeless. “It’s about hope and belonging,” he says. “And that never gets old.”
Together, their partnership captures what Gounod’s masterpiece is all about — love that is fearless, fleeting and transformative. And as these two artists bring their own life experience and world-class artistry to the world’s most famous love story, audiences will see why Roméo et Juliette is, at its heart, about finding the right person at exactly the right time.
Roméo et Juliette plays at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, from 23 October to 1 November 2025. Book tickets at stateopera.com.au
