Roméo et Juliette 2016

Synopsis
Artists

“If I cannot be his, I’ll let the grave be my wedding-bed!”

Shakespeare’s immortal tale of star-crossed lovers has inspired hundreds, if not thousands, of adaptions. Gounod’s music makes the heart leap and the rest of the world disappear as he immerses us in the sound of youth and of overwhelming love. We invite you to reacquaint yourself with the world’s favorite pair of lovers.

Overture/Prologue

Depiction of the animosity between the Montagues and the Capulets: The Chorus comments on the action that is to follow.

Act I

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.

Act II

The Capulets’ garden: Roméo and Juliette meet illicitly in the garden of the Capulet’s palace. They are interrupted by the servant Grégorio. They swear their love and plan to marry the next day.

Act III

Scene 1. Friar Laurence’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 Montagues and the Capulets may take place.
Scene 2. A street in front of the Capulet palace: Stéphano sings to attract the occupants into the street. Grégorio 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 then exiled by the Duke.

Act IV

Juliette’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 potion which will cause her to sleep, so to appear as if dead. After being laid in the family tomb, it is planned that Roméo will awaken her to take her away.

Act V

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 he dies Juliette stabs herself, to be united with her lover in death.