The Plot

Gounod’s opera has been the greatest popular success of the many operas founded upon this Shakespearian play.  The four love duets in the work have drawn particular praise.  It is an opera of genuine and notable beauty.  The libretto for Gounod’s opera adheres closely to the great Shakespearian tragedy.  Barbier and Carré borrowed from their source right down to individual expressions; most of the scenes with direct parallels to the Shakespeare play contain many metaphors drawn directly from it.  Though not as popular as Gounod’s Faust, in the hands of first rank artists this work never fails to touch the heart of public enthusiasm.

 

Verona, Italy, Fourteenth Century

Prologue

After a brief orchestral introduction, the curtain rises on the entire cast.  They sing of the ancient blood feud between the Capulets and the Montagues and of the tragic love of Romeo and Juliette.

 

Act I

Scene 1 – Ballroom of the Capulets

Count Capulet, a Veronese nobleman, is hosting a masked ball in honor of his daughter Juliette’s entrance into society.  Tybalt, his nephew, discusses her forthcoming marriage with Count Paris.  She knows nothing of the arrangement.  She enters and is introduced to the company.  When the guests leave for the banquet hall, Juliette remains to express her pleasure with the festive surroundings in the famous Waltz Song.  After she leaves, the masked Romeo, Mercutio and other Montagues crash the party.  Romeo is uneasy and Mercutio suggests that Mab, Queen of the Fairies, is responsible.  Romeo and the others draw aside when Juliette and her nurse, Gertrude, enter. Romeo is entranced with Juliette’s beauty and falls in love with her at first sight.  Gregorio calls the nurse to supper, leaving Romeo free to speak with Juliette.  Hardly has he stolen a first kiss when Tybalt enters, recognizes his mortal enemy, interrupts the duet and vows Romeo’s death.  Romeo, appalled to learn that he has fallen in love with a Capulet, calls his friends and a battle seems eminent.  However, Count Capulet intervenes.  He does not want Juliette’s party spoiled so he allows Romeo and the Montagues to leave in peace.

 

Scene 2 – In the garden of the Capulets

Romeo has again braved the wrath of his enemies for anther chance to see Juliette.  Gazing up at her empty balcony he sings the serenade “Ah! Arise, oh sun!”  Juliette appears and they sing a duet.  Her nurse calls her and she disappears for a moment and then reappears to bid Romeo good night.  She tells him that if he wishes to marry her, she will give him her life.  But if he jests, then he should leave and see her no more.  She reaches down to him and he reaches up to her.  The lovers bid each other farewell until the morrow.

Act II 

Scene 1 – In the cell of Friar Laurence

Dawn breaks as Romeo hastens to meet Juliette in Friar Lawrence’s bleak cell.  Reflecting that this union might end the feud, he blesses them and unites them in marriage as they kneel before him.  Juliette’s nurse acts as their witness.

 

Scene 2 – A street near the Capulet’s Palace

While Romeo’s page, Stephano, seeks his master, he sings an impudent song that rouses the household.  Angry at being awakened, Gregorio rushes out to put an end to the impertinence with his sword.  Entering, Mercutio finds them fencing and blames the Capulet retainer for drawing steel against a mere boy.  Tybalt joins the fray engaging Mercutio until Romeo arrives and separates them.  Romeo ignores Tybalt’s insults, not wishing to fight with Juliette’s kinsman.  But Mercutio and Tybalt resume their match and Mercutio is mortally wounded.  Romeo flings aside his reluctance, attacks Tybalt and kills him.  Cries of vengeance arise on all sides as Tybalt falls.  The Duke of Verona enters and banishes the just-wed Romeo from Verona.

 

Act III

Scene 1 – In Juliette’s chamber

At the risk of his life, Romeo has found his way to his bride’s chamber where they have spent a tender night together.  With the arrival of dawn, Romeo must bid his love farewell.  Juliette’s loneliness is interrupted by the arrival of Capulet and Friar Laurence who tells her she must wed Paris this very day to fulfill the dying wish of her cousin Tybalt.  Capulet leaves asking Friar Laurence to remain to reconcile Juliette to this unexpected news.  A desperate Juliette appeals to the Friar for help.  Consolingly, he offers the solution which lies in a sleeping potion she is to take which will simulate death.  When she wakes, she will find Romeo waiting to take her in his arms.  Putting her trust in the Friar, she drinks the potion. 

 

Scene 2 – In the tomb of the Capulets

Romeo arrives, but has not received news from Friar Laurence of the potion and that his beloved Juliette only sleeps.  In this dim, gloomy place, the sight of her beauty stirs him passionately and he realizes that he cannot live without her.  Still tragically unaware that she only sleeps, Romeo drinks a vial of poison.  Almost immediately Juliette awakens.  Doomed but enraptured, they celebrate a joy that must be short-lived.  The poison is already numbing Romeo’s limbs.  Juliette takes a dagger from her burial garments and stabs herself.  Begging forgiveness, the star-crossed lovers fall into their eternal sleep clasped in each other’s arms.

 

Buy Tickets Now