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Opera Synopses
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Roméo et JulietteBy Charles GounodLibretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on the play by William Shakespeare Time: 14th century Act I: A masked ball in the palace of the CapuletsAt the ball, the guests sing the pleasures which await them this evening (“L’heure s’envole”). Young noble Pâris is amazed at the magnificence of the ball. When Capulet leads his daughter Juliette into the room, she becomes the center of attention. Capulet invites the guests to dance in the nearby rooms and leaves Pâris to escort Juliette. When the stage is empty, Roméo and his friends Mercutio and Benvolio, wearing masks, come out of their hiding place. Due to their disguise, they were able to enter the rival house without being recognized. Roméo has reservations now on their outing and wishes to leave because he recently had a dream that filled him with somber premonitions as to their adventure. Mercutio frivolously brushes aside his premonitions, saying they are the work of the queen Mab (“Mab, la reine des mensonges”). Roméo is comforted by this ballad, but suddenly sees Juliette through an open door. He falls in love with her in an instant. Roméo is pushed outside by his friends as Juliette enters with her nurse, Gertrude. Gertrude sings Pâris’s praises to her but Juliette is not interested (“Je veux vivre”). The nurse goes away and, while Juliette gets ready to return to the dance, Roméo comes out of a corner of the room. After some words, they realize that their destinies are bound (“Ange adorable!”). In the exchange which follows, Roméo discovers that he has fallen in love with a Capulet. Although Roméo has his mask back on, Tybalt manages to identify him. After Roméo’s hasty departure, Tybalt reveals to Juliette that she spoke with a hated Montague. The guests return in the centre of the stage, with Roméo and his friends among them. Mercutio thinks that they were recognized and the Montagues beat a hasty retreat. Capulet encourages his guests to pursue the festivities. Act II: The Capulet garden at nightRoméo has left his friends and enters the Capulet garden. He cries to Juliette as to a rising sun (“Ah! Lève-toi, soleil”). Juliette appears on the balcony and Roméo reveals himself. She asks him for his love which he gives her. Their soft words are for a moment interrupted by Grégorio and other servants of Capulet, who roam the garden in search of Montagues seen in the area (“Personne! Le page aura fui”). When quiet returns, Roméo springs out of his hiding place (“O nuit divine”). Juliette confirms that she is ready to marry him and Roméo agrees. They are again interrupted, this time by Gertrude, who calls Juliette into the house. The two lovers part reluctantly. Act III, Scene 1: Brother Laurent’s cell. At dawnIn the wings, a monks’ choir can be heard. Brother Laurent enters and sings of the miracles of nature (“Breceau de tous les êtres”). Roméo enters and tells him of his love for Juliette who soon enters with Gertrude. The two lovers ask brother Laurent to unite them and he performs the ceremony (“Dieu qui fis l’homme à ton image”). Scene 2: A street in front of the house of CapuletRoméo’s page, Stéphano, mocks the Capulets with a song (“Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle?”). This brings Grégorio and the other Capulet servants outside (“Ah! Voici nos gens!”). Stéphano resumes his song and challenges Grégorio to a duel. Mercutio is indignant to see Grégorio fight a duel with a mere youth. When Roméo arrives, Tybalt turns around at once to face him, calling him a coward. Roméo refuses to fight but Mercutio decides to defend Roméo’s honor. He resumes the duel with Tybalt, and is mortally wounded when Roméo throws himself between the two. Roméo tries to take revenge; he fights with Tybalt, giving him a mortal blow. A brass band and marching troop announce the arrival of Duke. The onlookers sing their grief at the disaster, knowing the harsh punishments in store. Both houses shout for justice and the Duke exiles Roméo from Verona. Roméo grieves at the violence and his exile from Juliette. Act IV, Scene 1: Juliette’s room in the early hoursJuliette forgives Roméo for killing one of her relatives (“Va! Je t’ai pardonné”). They both sing their love during their wedding night, but they know they have to part before being discovered. After Roméo’s departure, Capulet, Gertrude and Brother Laurent enter (“Juliette! Ah, le ciel soit loué!”). Capulet announces to Juliette that Tybalt wanted to see Juliette marry Pâris, and that this marriage is already arranged. Juliette is in despair. When her father leaves the room, she tells Brother Laurent that she would prefer to die rather than to marry Pâris. He suggests that she drink a narcotic which will give her the appearance of death. Capulet will transport the body to the family grave, where Roméo will find her. Juliette agrees, though she is frightened. (“Dieu! Quel frisson court dans les veines!”). Act V: A subterranean crypt at the Capulet’sBrother Laurent learns from another monk, Brother Jean, that Roméo did not receive the letter explaining the trick to him because his page was attacked. Brother Laurent asks Jean to find another messenger. Roméo appears; believing Juliette dead, he drinks poison. At that moment, Juliette awakens, leading Roméo to believe he is being reunited in heaven with Juliette’s ghost. He discovers she is really alive, and they sing their love. Roméo tells her that he has just drunk a fatal poison. While he weakens, Juliette reveals a dagger hidden in her clothes and stabs herself. In a monumental final effort, Roméo and Juliette ask for divine leniency before dying.
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