Romeo and Juliet: The Plot

An Opera by Charles Gounod

Act I. The grand hall in the palace of the Capulets. A fête is in progress. The chorus sings gay measures. Tybalt speaks to Paris of Juliet, who at that moment appears with her father. Capulet bids the guests welcome and to be of good cheer — “Soyez les bienvenus, amis” (Be ye welcome, friends), and “Allons! jeunes gens! Allons! belles dames!” (Bestir ye, young nobles! And ye, too, fair ladies!).

Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, and half-a-dozen followers come masked. Despite the deadly feud between the two houses, they, Montagues, have ventured to come as maskers to the fête of the Capulets. Mercutio sings of Queen Mab, a number as gossamerlike in the opera as the monologue is in the play; hardly ever sung as it should be, because the role of Mercutio rarely is assigned to a baritone capable of doing justice to the airy measures of “Mab, la reine des mensonges” (Mab, Queen Mab, the fairies’ widwife).

The Montagues withdraw to another part of the palace. Juliet returns with Gertrude, her nurse. Full of high spirits, she sings the graceful and animated waltz, “Dans ce reve, que m’enivre” (Fair is the tender dream of youth). The nurse is called away. Romeo, wandering in, meets Juliet. Their love, as in the play, is instantaneous. Romeo addresses her in passionate accents. “Ange adorable” (Angel! adored one). His addresses, Juliet’s replies, make a charming duo.

Upon the re-entry of Tyball, Romeo, who had removed his mask, again adjusts it. But Tybalt suspects who he is, and from the utterance of his suspicions, Juliet learns that the handsome youth, to whom her heart has gone out, is none other than Romeo, scion of the Montagues, the sworn enemies of her house. The fiery Tybalt is for attacking Romeo and his followers then and there. But old Capulet, respecting the laws of hospitality, orders that the fête proceed.

Act II. The garden of the Capulets. The window of Juliet’s apartment, and the balcony, upon which it gives. Romeo’s page, Stephano, a character introduced by the librettists, holds a ladder by which Romeo ascends to the balcony. Stephano leaves, bearing the ladder with him.

Romeo sings, “Ah! Lève-toi soleil” (Ah! fairest dawn arise). The window opens, Juliet comes out upon the balcony. Romeo conceal himself. From her soliloquy he learns that, although he is a Montague, she loves him. He discloses his presence. The interchange of pledges is exquisite. Lest the sweetness of so much love music become too cloying, the librettists interrupt it with an episode. The Capulet retainer, Gregory, and servants of the house, suspecting that an intruder is in the garden, for they have seen Stephano speeding away, search unsuccessfully and depart.

The nurse calls. Juliet re-enters her apartment. Romeo sings, “O nuit divine” (Oh, night divine). Juliet again steals out upon the balcony. “Ah! je te l’ai dit, je t’adore!” (Ah, I have told you that I adore you), sings Romeo. There is a beautiful duet, “Ah! Ne fuis pas encore!” (Ah, do not flee again). A brief farewell. The curtain falls upon the “balcony scene.”

Act III., Part I. Friar Lawrence’s cell. Here takes place the wedding of Romeo and Juliet, the good friar hoping that their union may lead to peace between the two great Veronese houses of Montague and Capulet. There are in this part of the act Friar Lawrence’s prayer, “Dieu, qui à fis l’homme a ton image” (God, who made man in Thine image); a trio, in which the friar chants the rubric, and the pair respond; and an effective final quartet for Juliet, Gertrude, Romeo, and Friar Lawrence.

Part II. A street near Capulet’s house. Stephano, having vainly sought Romeo, and thinking he still may be in concealment in Capulet’s garden, sings a ditty likely to rouse the temper of the Capulet household, and bring its retainers into the street, thus affording Romeo a chance to get away. The ditty is “Que fais-tu, blanche turelle” (gentle dove, why art thou clinging?) — Gregory and Stephano draw and fight. The scene develops, as in the play. Friends of the two rival houses appear. Mercutio fights Tybalt and is slain, and is avenged by Romeo, who kills Tybalt, Juliet’s kinsman, and, in consequence, is banished from Verona by the Duke.

Act IV. It is the room of Juliet, to which Romeo has found access, in order to bid her farewell, before he goes into exile. The lingering adieux, the impassioned accents in which the despair of parting is expressed — these find eloquent utterance in the music. There is the duet, “Nuit d’hyménée, ô douce nuit d’amour” (Night hymeneal, sweetest night of love). Romeo hears the lark, sure sign of approaching day, but Juliet protests. “Non, non, ce n’est pas le jour” (No, no! ‘Tis not yet the day). Yet the parting time cannot be put off longer. Romeo: “Ah! reste! reste encore dans mes bras enlaces” (Ah! rest! Rest once more within mine entwining arms); then both, “Il faut partir, hélas” (Now we must part, alas).

Hardly has Romeo gone when Gertrude runs in to warn Juliet that her father is approaching with Friar Lawrence. Tybalt’s dying wish, whispered into old Capulet’s ear, was that the marriage between Juliet and the noble whom Capulet has chosen for her husband, Count Paris, be speeded. Juliet’s father comes top bid her prepare for the marriage. Neither she, the friar, nor the nurse dare tell Capulet of her secret nuptials with Romeo. This gives significance to the quartet, “Ne crains rien” (I fear no more). Capulet withdraws, leaving, as he supposes, Friar Lawrence to explain to Juliet the details of the ceremony. It is then the friar, in the dramatic, “Buvez donc ce breuvage” (Drink then of this philtre), gives her the potion, upon drinking which she shall appear as dead.

The scene changes to the grand hall of the palace. Guests arrive for the nuptials. There is occasion for the ballet, so essential for a production at the Grand Opéra. Juliet drains the vial, falls as if dead.

Act V. The tomb of the Capulets. Romeo, having heard in his exile that his beloved is no more, breaks into the tomb. She, recovering from the effects of the philtre, finds him dying, plunges a dagger into her breast, and expires with him.