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L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O
February 22 - March 19, 2016
|
25
ROMEO AND JULIET
Synopsis
TIME
: Renaissance
PLACE:
Verona, Italy
PROLOGUE
The people of Verona describe the conflict
between the Capulet and Montague families
(Chorus:
Vérone vit jadis deux familles rivales
),
and the star-crossed lovers whose deaths ended
the feud.
ACT ONE
Lords and ladies arrive at Lord Capulet’s home
for a masked ball (Chorus
: L’heure s’envole
).
Tybalt, the host’s nephew, teases Count Paris
about Juliet, the latter’s betrothed. Capulet
introduces his daughter to his guests. Juliet
responds to their admiration and expresses
her excitement about the ball. Capulet invites
everyone to enjoy themselves. When Romeo
and Mercutio appear with their friends,
Romeo admits his reluctance to attend the
ball, having been preoccupied by a troubling
dream. Mercutio blithely remarks that his
friend has been visited by Queen Mab, who
presides over all dreams (Ballad:
Mab, la reine
des mensonges
).
Already in love with Rosaline, Romeo
is assured by Mercutio that at the ball his
attention will be drawn to a hundred other
girls who will make him forget all about
her. Suddenly he sees Juliet from afar, and is
transfixed by her beauty. Mercutio drags him
away as Juliet appears, talking with her nurse,
Gertrude. The nurse reminds her charge that
she was herself already married at Juliet’s age,
but Juliet is hardly thinking about marriage
– she prefers to prolong her youthful dream
(Ariette:
Je veux vivre
). Gregorio, a Capulet
retainer, calls the nurse away, leaving Romeo
free to woo Juliet (Madrigal:
Ange adorable
).
He is horrified when she identifies herself as
Lord Capulet’s daughter. A suspicious Tybalt
returns to summon his cousin Juliet, and
Romeo realizes she is Lord Capulet’s daughter.
Recognizing his voice as that of Romeo,
a member of the enemy Montague family,
Tybalt swears revenge. Eager to keep his
guests’ spirits lighthearted, Capulet invites
them once again to drink and dance.
ACT TWO
Although it is nearly dawn, Romeo lingers
outside Lord Capulet’s home. He compares
Juliet with the rising sun (Cavatina:
Ah! lève-
toi, soleil!
). When she appears on her balcony,
he surprises her and ardently declares his
love. Romeo hides when Gregorio and some
Capulet servants appear, searching for Romeo’s
page, Stephano, whom they believe has been
seen in the area. They tease Gertrude before
leaving. The nurse takes Juliet inside, but she
soon reappears to bid goodnight to Romeo.
She informs him that, if he does indeed wish
to marry her, he should send word the next
day as to where and when they should meet.
Romeo begs her not to leave him yet (Duet:
Ah! ne fuis pas encore!
). After a final goodnight,
Juliet goes inside and Romeo asks the breeze to
send her his kiss.
ACT THREE
Scene 1.
Early the next morning, Friar Laurence
is astonished to be greeted by Romeo. Well
aware of the Capulet/Montague enmity,
the friar expresses grave apprehension when
Romeo confesses that he loves a Capulet.
Accompanied by her nurse, Juliet appears
and confirms that Romeo must be her
bridegroom. The friar agrees to perform the
marriage ceremony, and the three are joined
by Gertrude in proclaiming their joy (Quartet:
O pur bonheur
).
Intermission
Scene 2.
Having failed to find his master
during the past day, Stephano amuses himself
by singing a mocking serenade outside Lord
Capulet’s home (Chanson:
Que fais-tu, blanche
tourterelle
). The song draws Gregorio and
members of the Capulet household into the
street. They tease the young Stephano, who
then provokes Gregorio into a sword fight.
Mercutio steps in to defend Stephano, just
as Tybalt arrives on the scene, and the two
launch into raucous swordplay. When Romeo
appears, Tybalt – remembering his enemy’s
wooing of his cousin Juliet – challenges him,
but Romeo refuses to fight. He begs Mercutio
to restrain himself, but the fury of both
Tybalt and Mercutio boils over. Urged on by
their respective allies, they battle each other
relentlessly until Tybalt deals Mercutio a fatal
wound. Mercutio curses the houses of both
Capulet and Montague before he dies. Now
desperate for revenge, Romeo takes sword in
hand and kills Tybalt. The Duke of Verona
arrives and castigates both families for the
violence. Rather than the expected sentence
of death, the Duke orders Romeo into exile.
Overcome by misery (Finale:
Ah! jour de deuil
),
Romeo vows to see Juliet once more.
ACT FOUR
At dawn Romeo rushes to Juliet, who comforts
and supports him following the death of
Tybalt. They quickly become overwhelmed by
their love (Duet:
Nuit d’hyménée
), only to be
interrupted by daylight and a lark’s singing.
After a prolonged and passionate farewell,
Romeo tears himself from Juliet’s arms and
rushes away.
Accompanied by Friar Laurence, Lord
Capulet enters Juliet’s room, urging his
daughter to ready herself for her wedding to
Count Paris. Remaining behind to counsel
Juliet, Friar Laurence is confronted by the
despairing Juliet. He conspires with her and
offers her a potion that will induce a death-
like sleep, from which she will eventually be
awakened by Romeo. When finally alone,
Juliet calls on love to give her courage (Aria
:
Amour, ranime mon courage
) and drinks the
potion. When her father and Paris appear
for the marriage ceremony, she collapses and
appears to be dead.
ACT FIVE
Romeo enters Juliet’s crypt and sadly greets the
sight of her seemingly dead body. After kissing
her, he draws a bottle from his tunic and
drinks the poison it contains. Moments later
Juliet awakens, and she greets Romeo joyfully.
The two look forward to leaving Verona
forever (Duet Finale:
Viens! fuyons au bout
du monde!
). Suddenly the poison takes effect,
which forces Romeo to confess what he has
done. Distraught that he has left no poison for
her, Juliet takes his dagger and, with Romeo’s
help, stabs herself. With their last breath, the
lovers ask God’s forgiveness.