Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet Opera Synopsis

Setting: Verona in the fourteenth century

A choral prologue foretells the tragedy of Verona’s two rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets.

Part I

At a ball in honor of his daughter Juliet’s birthday, Count Capulet presents her to the court. Among the crowd are some uninvited guests: Romeo and his friend Mercutio, members of the rival Montague clan. When Romeo catches a glimpse of Juliet he falls immediately in love with her; and when they meet, she falls in love just as instantaneously. Still unaware of each other’s identity, the would-be lovers are interrupted by Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt. He recognizes Romeo as a Montague, but is restrained from attacking him by Count Capulet so as not to create a scene at the ball.

Unbeknown to Juliet, Romeo is hiding in the garden beneath her balcony when she calls into the night for him. He reveals himself and they declare their love. They are interrupted by Gregorio and the Capulet servants, who are searching for an intruder, and again by Juliet’s nurse, who calls her inside. Romeo and Juliet take their leave, promising eternal devotion.

The next day Romeo and Juliet meet in the cell of Friar Lawrence, who agrees to marry them in the hope that their union may bring an end to the feud between their families.

INTERMISSION

Part II

The page Stephano is waiting for his master Romeo, whom he thinks is at the Capulet home. He sings an impertinent song which leads to a quarrel. Romeo tries to stop the fighting, but Tybalt kills Mercutio. In retaliation Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from the city.

Romeo and Juliet have spent the night together; it is dawn and Romeo must flee. Gertrude comes to warn Juliet that her father is approaching with Friar Lawrence. Count Capulet tells Juliet that according to the dying wish of her cousin Tybalt, she must on that very day marry Paris, the nobleman her father has selected to be her husband. No one dares tell Count Capulet that Juliet has already married Romeo. When her father leaves, Friar Lawrence stays behind to give Juliet a sleeping potion that will cause her to appear dead for twenty-four hours; when she wakes up in her tomb, Romeo will be there for her.

Romeo returns for Juliet. He has not received the message from Friar Lawrence that she is only sleeping, and, upon finding her apparently lifeless body, he swallows poison. Juliet awakens and they are reunited—but only briefly. The poison begins to work, and Juliet, desiring to be united with Romeo in death, plunges his dagger into her breast.

Courtesy of Houston Grand Opera