Roméo et Juliette (Gounod)
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Title: | Roméo and Juliette |
Scene from the third act, 1867 |
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Shape: | Opera in five acts |
Original language: | French |
Music: | Charles Gounod |
Libretto : | Jules Barbier and Michel Carré |
Literary source: | William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet |
Premiere: | April 27, 1867 |
Place of premiere: | Théatre Lyrique, Paris |
Playing time: | approx. 2 ½ hours |
Place and time of the action: | Verona, Renaissance |
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Roméo et Juliette is an opera in five acts by Charles Gounod ( music ) with a libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré.
action
first act
A short prologue explains the hostility of the Montague and Capulet families in Verona . Tybalt and Paris talk about Juliette, who appears with her father at the capulets' masked ball . Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio are incognito present. Mercutio sings the ballad of Queen Mab . Juliette sings a happy waltz, “Je veux vivre” . Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love at first sight. But Tybalt reappears and suspects a rival behind Romeo's mask. While Tybalt demands immediate satisfaction , Count Capulet orders that the ball should go on.
Second act
Romeo and Juliet can talk undisturbed for the first time when Romeo climbs over the wall of the Capuletschen garden at night and sees Juliet on the balcony of her room. They confess their love to each other, promise each other to marry ( "Ah! Ne fuis pas encore" ) and say goodbye to each other ( "Va! Repose en paix! Sommeille!" ).
Third act
Father Lorenzo married the lovers in the quiet hope that this might lead to a reconciliation of the families. Since yesterday, Stèphano has looked in vain for his Mr. Roméo. A song of derision about Juliette, who could soon escape her family (“Que fais-tu, blanche tourterelle”), calls the Capulets into action. In the ensuing battles, Tybalt first kills Romeo's friend Mercutio, but is then killed by Romeo in revenge. Romeo is then banished from the city by the Duke.
Fourth act
Romeo says goodbye to Juliet ( "Nuit d'hymenée, Ô douce nuit d'amour" ), who reluctantly lets him go. Juliette's father reminds her that she is engaged to Paris and should marry him soon. Desperate, she calls on Father Lorenzo for help, who gives her a drug that lets her fall into a death-like sleep. The plan is to reopen the tomb after Juliet's funeral and to flee with Romeo. She drinks and falls down like dead.
Fifth act
Romeo believes that Juliet has died and enters Juliet's grave ( "Salut, tombeau / O ma femme, ô ma bien-aimée" ). He poisons himself, and Julia wakes up in his agony. Realizing the situation, she stabs herself. With the last duet ( “Viens, fuyons au bout du monde” ) the lovers die.
layout
music
Roméo et Juliette is a romantic number opera. Juliette's lively waltz aria “Je veux vivre” is particularly well-known; the opera also includes four expressive duets between Romeo and Juliet.
Discography (selection)
- 1953: Janine Micheau , Raoul Jobin , Heinz Rehfuss , chœurs et orchester de l ' Opéra de Paris , Alberto Erede - Decca
- 1968: Mirella Freni , Franco Corelli , Xavier Depraz, choir and orchestra of the Opéra de Paris, Alain Lombard - EMI
- 1984: Catherine Malfitano , Alfredo Kraus , José van Dam , chœur et orchester du Capitole de Toulouse , Michel Plasson - EMI
- 1998: Angela Gheorghiu , Roberto Alagna , José Van Dam, chœur et orchester du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson - EMI
- 2007: Anna Netrebko , Joseph Kaiser, John Hancock, choir and orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Plácido Domingo - Celestial Audio ( live )
- 2008: Nino Machaidze, Rolando Villazón , Mikhail Petrenko, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg , Yannick Nézet-Séguin - DVD
Web links
- Roméo et Juliette : Sheet music and audio files in the International Music Score Library Project
- Action and libretto from fr at Opera-Guide landing page due to URL change currently not available
- Libretto in French