From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Romeo et Juliette)
Roméo et Juliette
Opera by Charles Gounod
Adelina Patti and Mario in the title roles, act 2 in a London production of 1867
Librettist
LanguageFrench
Based on Romeo and Juliet
by Shakespeare
Premiere
27 April 1867 (1867-04-27)

Roméo et Juliette (English: Romeo and Juliet) 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 William Shakespeare. It was first performed at the Théâtre 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]

Performance history

Gounod's opera Faust 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 director Léon 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 the Exhibition, several of whom attended performances. A parody soon appeared at the Théâtre Déjazet, entitled Rhum et eau en juillet (Rum and Water in July). [2]

Jean de Reszke as Roméo
(Paris, 1888)

The opera entered the repertoire of the Opéra-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 1888 Roméo et Juliette transferred to the Paris Opéra, with Adelina Patti and Jean de Reszke in the leading roles. [3] The opera was first seen in London (with Patti and Mario) on 11 July 1867 and in New York (with Minnie Hauk) at the Academy of Music on 15 November of that year. [4]

In 1912, the opera was recorded complete for the first time with Agustarello Affre as Roméo, Yvonne Gall as Juliette, Henri Albers as Capulet and Marcel Journet as Laurent.

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

Critical reception

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

Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, in which the composer is always pleasing, though seldom impressive, might be described as the powerful drama of Romeo and Juliet reduced to the proportions of an eclogue 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]

Roles

Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role Voice type [7] Premiere cast, 27 April 1867
Conductor: Adolphe Deloffre [8]
Roméo, son of Montague tenor Pierre-Jules Michot
Juliette, daughter of Capulet soprano Marie Caroline Miolan-Carvalho
Frère Laurent bass Jean Cazaux
Mercutio, Romeo's friend baritone Auguste-Armand Barré
Gertrude, Juliet's nurse mezzo-soprano Eléonore Ragaine-Duclos
Tybalt, Lady Capulet's nephew tenor Jules-Henri Puget
Benvolio, Montague's nephew tenor Pierre-Marie Laurent
Count Capulet bass Eugène Troy
Pâris, a young count baritone Laveissière
The Duke bass Émile Wartel
Grégorio, Capulet's servant baritone Étienne Troy
Frère Jean bass Neveu
Stéphano, Romeo's page mezzo-soprano
( trouser role)
Joséphine Daram
Male and female retainers and kinsmen of the Houses of Capulet and Montague, maskers

Synopsis

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 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 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

Press illustration of act 3, scene 2, as staged in the original production

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.

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 was 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. [8]

Recordings

Audio

Year Cast
(Juliette, Roméo,
Frère Laurent, Mercutio)
Conductor,
Opera house and orchestra
Label [9]
1947 Bidu Sayão,
Jussi Björling,
Nicola Moscona,
John Brownlee
Emil Cooper,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
CD: Sony Classical [10]
Streaming audio:
Met Opera on Demand [11]
1953 Janine Micheau,
Raoul Jobin,
Heinz Rehfuss,
Pierre Mollet
Alberto Erede,
Théâtre National de l'Opéra, Paris
CD: Decca
Cat: 443 539-2
1968 Mirella Freni,
Franco Corelli,
Xavier Depraz,
Henri Gui
Alain Lombard,
Paris Opera Orchestra and Chorus
CD: EMI
Cat: CMS5 65290-2
1995 Angela Gheorghiu,
Roberto Alagna,
José van Dam,
Simon Keenlyside
Michel Plasson,
Toulouse Capitole Orchestra and Chorus
CD: EMI
Cat: 640700-2

Video

Year Cast
(Juliette, Roméo,
Frère Laurent, Mercutio)
Conductor,
Opera house and orchestra
(video details)
Label
1994 Leontina Vaduva,
Roberto Alagna,
Robert Lloyd,
François Le Roux
Charles Mackerras,
Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus
(Recorded live, Royal Opera House, stage director: Nicolas Joël)
DVD: Opus Arte [12]
DVD: Kultur [13]
2002 Angela Gheorghiu,
Roberto Alagna,
František Zahradníček,
Vratislav Kříž
Anton Guadagno,
Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and Chorus
(Recorded live, Zvíkov Castle, film director: Barbara Willis Sweete)
DVD: ArtHaus Musik
Cat: 100 706
2007 Anna Netrebko,
Roberto Alagna,
Robert Lloyd,
Nathan Gunn
Plácido Domingo,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
(Recorded live, 15 December 2007, Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center))
HD video:
Met Opera on Demand [14]
2008 Nino Machaidze,
Rolando Villazón,
Mikhail Petrenko,
Russell Braun
Yannick Nézet-Séguin,
Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Salzburg Festival
(Recorded live, Felsenreitschule, staging: Bartlett Sher, director: Brian Large)
Blu-ray: Deutsche Grammophon
Cat: 073 4521
2011 Nino Machaidze,
Stefano Secco,
Giorgio Giuseppini,
Artur Ruciński
Fabio Mastrangelo,
Arena di Verona Festival Orchestra and Chorus
(Recorded live, August 2011, Arena di Verona, stage director: Francesco Micheli)
Blu-ray: BelAir Classiques
Cat: BAC 481
2017 Diana Damrau,
Vittorio Grigolo,
Mikhail Petrenko,
Elliot Madore
Gianandrea Noseda,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
(Recorded live, 21 January 2017, Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center), staging: Bartlett Sher)
HD video:
Met Opera on Demand [15]

References

Notes
  1. ^ Huebner S. The Operas of Charles Gounod. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1992.
  2. ^ a b Walsh, T. J. Second Empire Opera – The Théâtre-Lyrique Paris 1851–1870. John Calder, London, 1981.
  3. ^ a b Wolff, Stéphane. Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique 1900–1950. André Bonne, Paris, 1953.
  4. ^ Kobbé, Gustav. Kobbé's Complete Opera Book, Harewood (ed.). Putnam, London & New York, 1954.
  5. ^ "Performances, Romeo et Juliette by city". operabase.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  6. ^ Quoted in Rosenthal 1958, p. 150.
  7. ^ Voice types are from Huebner 1992, p. 31.
  8. ^ a b "Roméo et Juliette". charles-gounod.com. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. ^ Recordings of Roméo et Juliette on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
  10. ^ OCLC  699825840.
  11. ^ Roméo et Juliette (1 February 1947), Met Opera on Demand.
  12. ^ OCLC  960851697
  13. ^ ASIN  B00005UW8C.
  14. ^ Roméo et Juliette (15 December 2007), Met Opera on Demand.
  15. ^ Roméo et Juliette (21 January 2017), Met Opera on Demand.
Sources

External links