For Charlotte, returning to sing Stéphano is a full-circle moment. Adelaide-born and now based in San Francisco, the soprano began her career with State Opera South Australia as a young Emerging Artist. Since then, she’s studied in London, performed across Europe and the United States, and earned a reputation for her vocal power and stage presence.
“The aria Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle is the spark that lights the fire,” she says. “It sets everything in motion.” For Kelso, Stéphano is more than a playful pageboy — he’s a restless spirit who captures the energy of youth. “He’s mischievous but wants to belong,” she adds. “That’s what makes him real.”
Charlotte’s ability to mix strength and vulnerability comes from experience — both artistic and personal. She credits director Rodula Gaitanou for helping her dig deep into the role:
She unpacks the psychology behind every line — it’s like learning the opera all over again.
Sharing the stage is Adelaide-born Eugene Raggio, a bass-baritone whose career has spanned opera, theatre and film. Of Maltese heritage, he’s performed from Sydney to Berlin, debuting as Wotan in Das Rheingold and touring the German-speaking world in Das Phantom der Oper. He’s also sung Eugene Onegin, Tosca, La Bohème, Armide and Die Walküre across Australia and Europe.
But Raggio’s creative reach extends far beyond the stage. An Honours graduate of the Elder Conservatorium and a trained actor and filmmaker, he’s the Associate Director of the Australian Remembrance Foundation and founding conductor of Lest We Forget – A Harbour Sunset Tribute, the national televised event honouring veterans. His short films have screened internationally, winning awards in Los Angeles, Nice and Bucharest.
For both performers, Roméo et Juliette is more than another contract — it’s a chance to share their craft with the audiences and company that first inspired them. “Coming home reminds you where the journey began,” Raggio says. “And why you wanted to tell stories in the first place.”
Roméo et Juliette plays at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide, until 1 November 2025. Book tickets at stateopera.com.au
