Gounod, Charles / Roméo Et Juliette - Complete Opera
| Album: | Roméo Et Juliette - Complete Opera | Collection: | Classical | |
| Artist: | Gounod, Charles | Added: | Dec 2023 | |
| Label: | Rca Red Seal | |||
A-File Activity
| Add Date: | 2023-12-10 | Pull Date: | 2024-02-11 | Charts: | Classical/Experimental |
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Album Review
Gary Lemco
Reviewed 2023-12-01
Reviewed 2023-12-01
Roméo et Juliette is an opera in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. It was first performed at Théâtre Lyrique (Théâtre-Lyrique Impérial du Châtelet), Paris
on 27 April 1867. The opera is notable for the series of 4 duets for the main characters and the song "Je veux vivre" for the soprano.
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 Pâris about Juliette, who appears with her father. Roméo, Mercutio, Benvolio and 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 occurs, and they fall in love. But Tybalt re-appears and suspects that the hastily re-masked Roméo is his rival. Tybalt wants immediate revenge; Capulet orders that the ball continue.
Act 2 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.
Act 3 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 Montagues 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.
Act 4 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 is inserted at this point.]
Act 5 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.
on 27 April 1867. The opera is notable for the series of 4 duets for the main characters and the song "Je veux vivre" for the soprano.
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 Pâris about Juliette, who appears with her father. Roméo, Mercutio, Benvolio and 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 occurs, and they fall in love. But Tybalt re-appears and suspects that the hastily re-masked Roméo is his rival. Tybalt wants immediate revenge; Capulet orders that the ball continue.
Act 2 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.
Act 3 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 Montagues 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.
Act 4 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 is inserted at this point.]
Act 5 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.
Track Listing