DIANA ALEXE TRIUMPHS AS JULIETTE: A PERFORMANCE TO REMEMBER

A brilliant portrayal of Gounod’s heroine in Arnaud Bernard’s new production opening the season at the Romanian National Opera in Cluj-Napoca

A voice that captivates. An interpretation that moves. A Juliette that leaves a lasting impression.

Soprano Diana Alexe has made a striking impression as Juliette in Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, earning enthusiastic acclaim from Romanian critics in Arnaud Bernard’s new production opening the season at the Romanian National Opera in Cluj-Napoca. Across four reviews published by Adevărul, Radio România Muzical, Republika Kriticaand Prietenii ONR Cluj, the young soprano has been celebrated for her brilliant coloratura, luminous vocal timbre, expressive versatility and compelling stage presence — qualities that make her interpretation of one of opera’s most beloved heroines truly memorable.

For Costin Popa of Adevărul, Alexe’s Juliette was a showcase of vocal artistry at its finest. Praising her “refined command of vocal technique”, he highlighted the dazzling brilliance of Je veux vivre, with its effortless coloratura and spectacular high note, as well as the emotional intensity of the love duets with Roméo. Her interpretation of Amour, ranime mon courage further revealed the remarkable combination of lyricism, vocal power and penetrating qualitythat distinguishes her singing.

The praise continued with Florica Jalbă of Radio România Muzical, who singled out Alexe’s performance of Amour, ranime mon courage as the evening’s strongest moment. On stage, the soprano brought Juliette to life with charm, playfulness and coquettish elegance, while conveying the character’s emotional awakening as innocent love gives way to painful awareness and life-changing decisions.

For Tudor Sicomaș of Republika Kritica, Alexe possesses “a crystalline, angelic, pure voice” and is perfectly suited to Juliette. What makes her performance particularly compelling, however, is her extraordinary ability to embody the heroine’s transformation: from a youthful, innocent girl to a passionate woman who embraces love with complete abandon, and finally to a tragic heroine determined to face her destiny. The critic praised an interpretation that extends far beyond vocal beauty, creating “a truly moving performance” through the seamless union of singing and acting.

Diaconu Adrian of Prietenii ONR Cluj was equally emphatic, declaring that Alexe’s portrayal “exceeded all expectations”. He praised her magnificent voice, its richness of timbre and evenness across the registers, as well as her command of both the sparkling agility of Je veux vivre and the dramatic intensity of Amour, ranime mon courage. Her stage presence and convincing portrayal of Juliette’s youth and innocence completed a performance that left the critic eager to see her return to Cluj-Napoca.

Four critics, four perspectives, one compelling artistic statement: Diana Alexe brings together the vocal finesse required by Gounod’s demanding score and the dramatic imagination needed to make Juliette’s journey resonate with audiences. From the sparkling joy of Je veux vivre to the profound emotional intensity of the final act, her portrayal reveals an artist capable of transforming technical brilliance into genuine theatrical emotion.

With this acclaimed performance in a production that launched the season at the Romanian National Opera in Cluj-Napoca, Diana Alexe continues to affirm her artistic individuality and her growing presence on the operatic stage— bringing freshness, elegance and emotional conviction to one of the repertoire’s most iconic soprano roles.