Significant French Operas
Titles beginning with R
Opera Links
Roméo et Juliette
Opera in 5 acts
Music by Charles Gounod
Libretto by
Jules Barbier
& Michel Carré
First Performance: Théâtre-Italien, Paris, April 27, 1867
Cast:
Juliette
Lyric
soprano
Roméo
Lyric
tenor
Mercutio
Baritone
Frère Laurent
Bass
Stephano
Soprano or
mezzo
soprano
Gertrude
Mezzo
soprano
Tybalt
Tenor
Count Capulet
Bass
Gregory
Baritone
Benvolio
Tenor
The Duke of Verona
Bass
Count Paris
Baritone
Chorus: SATB
Ballet: Dances in ballroom; also in Act IV (often omitted.)
Background
Synopsis
Romeo, scion of the house of Montague, falls deeply in love with Juliette at a ball in the house of her father, a Capulet. Because of a long-standing feud between their families, the two lovers meet only secretly. They are married in the cell of Frere Laurent, who hopes to end the feud. But bitterness is intensified when the Capulet Tybalt kills Mercutio, and Romeo, avenging his friend, slays Tybalt and is banished from Verona. Juliette's father tells her she must marry Paris. Frere Laurent gives her a potion which produces a deathlike trance. Romeo comes from Mantua to visit her tomb and, believing her dead, drinks poison. Awaking to find him dying, Juliette plunges his dagger into her own heart.
Libretto
Links
Last updated: January 22, 2008