Romeo and Juliet is an opera in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carrй, based on The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. It was first performed at the Thйвtre Lyrique (Thйвtre-Lyrique Impйrial du Chвtelet), 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.
The libretto follows the story of Shakespeare's play.
Act 1
Overture prologue:
A short chorus sets the scene of the rival families in Verona.
A masked ball in the Capulets’ palace
Tybalt talks to Pвris about Juliette, who appears with her father. Romйo, 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 Romйo and Juliette takes place, and they fall in love. But Tybalt re-appears and suspects that the hastily re-masked Romйo is his rival. While Tybalt wants immediate revenge, Capulet orders that the ball continue.
Act 2
The Capulets' garden
After Romйo's page Stephano has helped his master gain access, he reveals the two young lovers exchanging their vows of love.
Act 3
Scene 1: Laurent's cell
Romйo 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 Romйo, determined to avenge his comrade, and Tybalt. Tybalt is killed by Romйo, who is banished by the Duke.
Act 4
uliet's room at dawn
Romйo and Juliette are together and, after a long duet, Romйo departs for exile. Juliette's father comes to remind her of Tybalt's dying wish for Juliette to marry Count Pвris. 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 Romйo will awaken her and take her away. [A ballet scene in the grand hall of the palace was inserted at this point.
Act 5
Juliet's tomb
Romйo 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 Romйo. As her bridegroom weakens Juliette stabs herself, to be united with her lover in death.