Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

with remorse and grief, since her love for him has never changed; and humbly kneel-ing before
Jupiter, she entreats him to restore her to her old age once more, since his gift of youth has caused
her to grieve her beloved husband, for which act she only longs now to atone. Philemon hears this
request, and sees that his wife still loves him; and he hurries to her side, and clasping her in his
arms, also begs the god to leave them to their old age and poverty, in which state they were at least
happy in each other's love. Jupiter is touched and amazed at the sight of such real devotion and
perfect love; and declaring that they shall still retain their youth and beauty, he magnanimously
renounces the gratifying of his own pleasure, and withdraws with Vulcan, leaving the reunited
couple to happiness and con-tentment in their new life.
66. ROMEO AND JULIET
Grand Opera in Five Acts By Charles Gounod
Libretto, adapted by Shakespeare's Tragedy, By Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
First Produced Paris, April, 1867
Chief Characters Juliet, Gertrude (the Nurse), Romeo, Tybalt, Mercutio, Benvolio, Friar Laurence,
Paris
THE story follows on very similar lines to Shakespeare 's tragedy, the action taking place in
Verona. The first act opens at the festival held at the house of Capulet, to which come uninvited
the young lords, Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio, of the Montague family, in defiance of the great
feud which exists between these two foremost houses of the city. Here Romeo meets and falls in
love with Capulet's fair young daughter, Juliet, who is betrothed, against her will, to her kinsman,
Paris; and his passion is quickly returned by the maiden. Romeo is masked, but his disguise is
soon penetrated by the young Capulet lord, Tybalt, who seeks a quarrel with this rash young man
for thus venturing into an enemy's house. Old Capu-let, however, puts an end to the disturbance,
and the festivities are renewed. After the guests have departed, we are taken to the garden outside
Capulet's house, whither Romeo has come to seek his lady-love; and when Juliet presently appears
at the balcony he is enraptured, and the two declare their love. They are interrupted by the girl's
old nurse, Gertrude, and some of the retainers; but when all is still once more, the lovers arrange to
be married in secret, knowing that the family feud will prevent them from securing the consent of
their parents. In the next scene the secret marriage takes place in the cell of a friendly monk, Friar
Laurence; and when Juliet has again returned to her home Romeo and his friends have a stormy
meeting with the hot-tempered young Capulet lord, Tybalt, which results in a fierce quarrel.
Tybalt and Mercutio fight, the latter being slain; and on seeing his beloved friend fall mortally
wounded, Romeo furiously attacks Tybalt, and kills him in his turn. The noise of the fighting
quickly brings around a crowd of Capulets and Montagues, each loudly defending his own
partisans; and, finally, the Duke of Verona himself appears on the scene, and condemns Romeo to
banishment. Before being driven to exile, however, Romeo determined to see his beloved Juliet
once more; and making his way to the garden of the Capulets, he is assisted by the old nurse in
obtaining a last interview with his bride. The lovers spend a short blissful interview together; and
then, after a passionate farewell, they separate, Romeo departing at dawn to another city. He has
been scarcely gone a few minutes when Capulet enters, bidding his daughter prepare for her
marriage with the Count Paris, which he has determined shall take place that day, heedless of
Juliet's entreaties for the ceremony to be delayed. Still not daring to reveal the fact that she is