description Roméo et Juliette Overview
"Roméo et Juliette" is a five-act opéra lyrique by French composer Charles Gounod, adapting William Shakespeare's tragic play of the same name. It premiered at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris in 1867 with a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré. The opera is a staple of the French romantic repertoire, celebrated for its four distinct love duets that musically track the progression of the protagonists' relationship from first meeting to tragic end.
help Roméo et Juliette FAQ
Which parts of Shakespeare's story are emphasized in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette?
The opera concentrates heavily on the lovers and gives Roméo and Juliette four substantial duets. Characters and political details from Shakespeare are reduced so that the romance remains at the center.
What is Juliette's waltz aria about?
In "Je veux vivre," Juliette celebrates youth and insists that she wants to enjoy freedom before thinking seriously about marriage. The brilliant waltz appears early in the opera, before her relationship with Roméo turns tragic.
Does Juliette wake before Roméo dies in Gounod's ending?
Yes. Juliette revives after Roméo has taken poison, allowing the couple to sing a final duet before he dies and she stabs herself.
Who sings the page Stéphano in Roméo et Juliette?
Stéphano is a trouser role normally sung by a mezzo-soprano. The character does not come directly from Shakespeare and is best known for a taunting song that provokes the Capulets.
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