Roméo et Juliette
Opera byCharles Gounod
Adelina Patti andMario in the title roles, act 2 in aLondon production of 1867
Librettist	Jules Barbier Michel Carré
Language	French
Based on	Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare
Premiere	27 April 1867 (1867-04-27) Théâtre Lyrique, Paris

Roméo et Juliette (French pronunciation:[ʁɔmeoeʒyljɛt],Romeo and Juliet) is anopera in five acts byCharles Gounod to aFrench libretto byJules Barbier andMichel Carré, based onRomeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. It was first performed at theThéâtre Lyrique (Théâtre-Lyrique Impérial du Châtelet), Paris on 27 April 1867. This opera is notable for the series of four duets for the main characters and the waltz song"Je veux vivre" for the soprano.^[1]

Gounod's operaFaust had become popular at the Théâtre Lyrique since its premiere in 1859 (it was performed over 300 times between 1859 and 1868) and this led to a further commission from the directorLéon Carvalho.^[2] Behind the scenes there were difficulties in casting the lead tenor, and Gounod was said to have composed the last act twice, but after the public general rehearsal and first night it was hailed as a major success for the composer. Its success was aided by the presence of dignitaries in Paris for theExhibition, several of whom attended performances. A parody soon appeared at the Théâtre Déjazet, entitledRhum et eau en juillet (Rum and Water in July).^[2]

The opera entered the repertoire of theOpéra-Comique on 20 January 1873 (with Deloffre and Carvalho returning to their roles from the premiere), where it received 391 performances in 14 years.^[3]On 28 November 1888Roméo et Juliette transferred to the Paris Opéra, withAdelina Patti andJean de Reszke in the leading roles.^[3] The opera was first seen in London (with Patti andMario) on 11 July 1867 and in New York (withMinnie Hauk) at theAcademy of Music on 15 November of that year.^[4]

In 1912, the opera was recorded complete for the first time withAgustarello Affre as Roméo,Yvonne Gall as Juliette,Henri Albers as Capulet andMarcel Journet as Laurent.

The opera is frequently staged by the world's opera houses.^[5]

Sutherland Edwards, music critic of theSt. James's Gazette, wrote the following about the opera following its first London performance in 1867:

Gounod'sRoméo et Juliette, in which the composer is always pleasing, though seldom impressive, might be described as the powerful drama ofRomeo and Juliet reduced to the proportions of aneclogue for Juliet and Romeo. One remembers the work as a series of very pretty duets, varied by a sparkling waltz air for Juliet, in which Madame Patti displays that tragic genius, which belongs to her equally, with the highest capacity for comedy. [Vaccai's]Romeo e Giulietta is an admirable opera for Giulietta; in which Romeo is not forgotten.^[6]

The libretto follows the story of Shakespeare's play.

Overture prologue:

A short chorus sets the scene of the rival families in Verona.

A masked ball in the Capulets’ palace

Tybalt talks to Pâris about Juliette, who appears with her father. Roméo, Mercutio, Benvolio and their friends enter, disguised, and Mercutio sings a ballad about Queen Mab, after which Juliette sings a joyful waltz song. The first meeting between Roméo and Juliette takes place, and they fall in love. But Tybalt re-appears and suspects that the hastily re-masked Roméo is his rival. While Tybalt wants immediate revenge, Capulet orders that the ball continue.

The Capulets' garden

After Roméo's page Stephano has helped his master gain access, he reveals the two young lovers exchanging their vows of love.

Scene 1: Laurent's cell

Roméo and Juliette, accompanied by Gertrude, go to the cell, and the wedding takes place. Laurent hopes that reconciliation between the houses of the Montagus and the Capulets may thus take place.

Scene 2: a street near Capulet's palace

Stephano sings to attract the occupants into the street. Gregoire and Stephano skirmish as men from each family appear. The duel is first between Tybalt and Mercutio, who falls dead, and then between Roméo, determined to avenge his comrade, and Tybalt. Tybalt is killed by Roméo, who is banished by the Duke.

Juliet's room at dawn

Roméo and Juliette are together and, after a long duet, Roméo departs for exile. Juliette's father comes to remind her of Tybalt's dying wish for Juliette to marry Count Pâris. The friar gives Juliette a draught which will cause her to sleep, so as to appear as if dead and, after being laid in the family tomb, it is planned that Roméo will awaken her and take her away. [A ballet scene in the grand hall of the palace was inserted at this point.]

Juliet's tomb

Roméo breaks into the tomb after having taken poison because he believes that Juliette is dead. When she awakes from the friar's potion, the lovers' last duet is heard before the poison takes effect on Roméo. As her bridegroom weakens Juliette stabs herself, to be united with her lover in death.^[8]

Notes

Sources

• Huebner, Steven (1992). "Roméo et Juliette (ii)", vol. 4, pp. 31–32, inThe New Grove Dictionary of Opera, edited byStanley Sadie. New York: Grove.ISBN 0333734327. Also available atOxford Music Online (subscription required).
• Rosenthal, Harold (1958).Two Centuries of Opera at Covent Garden. London: Putnam.OCLC 593682,503687870.

• Roméo et Juliette: Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
• Libretto ofRoméo et Juliette in French and English
• Facsimile of Gounod's ms at Juilliard library showing revisions to the end of act 3 and opening of act 4.

• French-language operas
• Operas by Charles Gounod
• 1867 operas
• Operas
• Opera world premieres at the Théâtre Lyrique
• Libretti by Jules Barbier
• Libretti by Michel Carré
• Operas based on Romeo and Juliet

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Pages with French IPA
• Works with IMSLP links
• Articles with International Music Score Library Project links