Charles Gounod
"ROMÉO ET JULIETTE"
Synopsis
Act 1
After the overture the situation of conflict is explained in a prologue
sung by the choir. The families of the Capulets and Montagues in Verona
are enemies. At a masked ball in the palace of the Capulets where the
aristocratic society of the city is amusing itself, Count Capulet celebrates
the betrothal of his daughter Juliet to Count Paris. Capulet’s nephew
Tybalt also congratulates Paris. When the guests go into an adjoining
room, three masked men appear: Romeo and his friends Benvolio and Mercutio,
all from the house of Montague. At first Romeo is hesitant and Mercutio
makes fun of him. However, when Romeo catches sight of Juliet, he is lost.
Enchanted by her beauty he makes a declaration of love for her, which
she, enthralled by the young stranger, immediately seals with a kiss.
Suddenly Tybalt appears, recognises the disguised Romeo by his voice and
challenges him to a duel. Count Capulet orders that peace be restored;
the festivities continue and the masked men disappear.
Act 2
Romeo cannot forget Juliet. Despite the risk he returns to her garden
and calls her. Juliet appears on the balcony and they again declare their
new and impetuous love for one another, although Romeo is a Montague.
The love scene is interrupted by the arrival of servants who claim to
have seen Romeo with his page Stefano in the garden.
Romeo, who had not been discovered in his hiding place, returns to the
balcony. The two lovers remain together for a long time although the understanding
nurse Gertrude warns them. The two renew their vow to be faithful and
intend to marry.
Act 3
The following morning Friar Lawrence secretly marries the couple, hoping
the union will reconcile the two feuding households. Romeo’s page Stefano
is still looking for his master. Outside the palace of the Capulets he
gibes them with scornful verses and is heard by the servant Gregorio who
incites a quarrel. Mercutio rushes to help Stefano but is challenged by
Tybalt to a duel. Romeo arrives and tries to intervene but it is too late:
Tybalt stabs Mercutio. Romeo seizes his dagger and kills Tybalt. The Duke
of Verona banishes the murderer Romeo but he spends the night instead
with Juliet. Hardly has he left at dawn before Juliet’s father enters
her room to inform her that she is to marry Count Paris that very day.
Friar Lawrence arrives to help Juliet who is in despair and gives her
a potion that makes her appear dead so that she can avoid the wedding.
Juliet drinks the potion. As Count Paris is about to slip the ring on
to her finger at the wedding she collapses, lifeless. She is taken to
the family tomb.
Act 4
Another monk informs Friar Lawrence in his cell that Romeo has not received
the news about the feigned death of Juliet and the background to what
has happened. He was in Mantua and immediately upon hearing about her
death had left the city. In the tomb Romeo sees the pale Juliet for one
last time and then poisons himself. As he dies he sinks into the arms
of Juliet as she awakens from her drugged sleep. When she realises that
her beloved can no longer be saved she stabs herself. They both die in
close embrace, beseeching God for forgiveness.
Manuel Brug
Monika Rittershaus, Longing
Charles Gounod
Roméo et Juliette
Concert performance in French
Conductor Bertrand de Billy
Chorus master Rupert Huber
Roméo Roberto Alagna
Juliette Angela Gheorghiu
Capulet Philippe Rouillon
Tybalt Vicente Ombuena
Mercutio Manuel Lanza
Friar Lawrence / The Duke of Verona
Roberto Scandiuzzi
Benvolio Dietmar Kerschbaum
Stefano Daniela Barcellona
Count Paris Markus Eiche
Gertrude Katharine Goeldner
Gregorio, servant Boaz Daniel
Radio Symphony Orchestra
of Vienna
Concert Association of the Vienna
State Opera Chorus
Grosses Festspielhaus
20 and 24 August 2002 Performances begin at 7 p.m.
Tickets are available from
the Festival Ticket Office
for the premiere on 20 August for
€ 110 and € 150.
Telephone: 0043 662 8045-500
Telefax: 0043 662 8045-555
E-mail: info@salzburgfestival.at