Robin Rombach, Post-Gazette Massimo Giordana and Lyubov Petrova, above and below, will perform the title roles here in "Romeo & Juliet."

When soprano Lyubov Petrova and tenor Massimo Giordano take the Benedum Center stage in Pittsburgh Opera's production of Gounod's "Romeo & Juliet," they'll carry with them a wealth of insight into the characters and a sizable amount of performance experience that belies their youthful good looks. They'll also bring similar histories with the Metropolitan Opera -- both of their Met debuts were as substitutes.

		Related coverage Opera Preview: Pittsburgh Opera adds a hint of 'Six Feet Under' to 'Romeo & Juliet'

They shared their Met experiences, along with Romeo and Juliet insights, over lunch last week in a swanky Downtown bistro. Petrova's Met performance was the more harrowing. Not only did it come after just over a week's notice, it was her first Zerbinetta in Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos," a role filled with demanding coloratura pyrotechnics. But she says she didn't have any time to be nervous. "A month after, I realized what happened," she said with a warm smile. "Thank goodness it went well." Giordano's debut wasn't so last minute. He had months to prepare after another singer canceled well in advance of the date, but he still described the experience as a huge challenge. "I was very scared, actually," he said. He sums up the experience metaphorically: "Life is like that. One day you're doing nothing, the day after, you're a lion in a cage fighting other lions."

Pittsburgh Opera is mounting a nontraditional, contemporary production. When asked if they perform differently in such staging, both singers simultaneously answered "absolutely." Petrova said that not only are dress and movement different, but also body language is more realistic. Also, the text can have different meaning -- "I can use words in a different way." Giordano said he loves traditional productions, but "when something is really interesting and I can discover something new, I agree with that."

Petrova described the tale as a love story at its purest. But, she said, while the love happens very fast, it's not love at first sight. "What they recognize about each other is that they're different from their surroundings," she said. "They see in each other something that makes them different and attracts them very much. Because they're young and their hearts are pure, their priorities are different."

Giordano agreed. "They're at an age when they're looking at life through a different perspective. So they're not following rules, behaving as they want to."

Petrova said that what the characters do have "from the first moment" is a level of trust. "They devote themselves to their feelings, they don't question themselves or each other," she said. "They really believe in their feelings and that [bond] is the most important thing in their lives."

Both Petrova and Giordano see no real challenges in portraying teenagers, and they don't plan to use any contrived mannerisms. "I've seen people on stage trying to pretend that they're young, and I think it's rather sad looking," Petrova said. "If we can feel young and we're true to the character, the story and the music, then we do look 15 years old." Giordano said he once performed "Romeo and Juliet" with a soprano who was much older than he but was a very convincing teen. He chuckles that he also did a production with "someone in her teens who seemed 60."

The music, Petrova added, "fits perfectly into my voice, it's written very well, at least for me. Because the story is so deep and so meaningful on so many levels I can use all I have. That's what I love about this part."

She said she will use a "slightly lighter mechanism" at the beginning of the show to indicate Juliet's state of mind but won't lighten her voice "for sake of being a teenager."

Giordano simply grinned and said, "I will let the audience decide if the role fits me or not."