from Act IV of the French opera Roméo et Juliette by Charles-François Gounod

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Juliet, daughter of Capulet

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: Juliet's room, Verona, Italy, 14th century

Synopsis: Juliet has taken a potion to render her in a near-death state so she will not have to marry Paris and will wake in time for Romeo to take her away. After taking the drug, though, she becomes afraid that the potion may either not work or work too well and kill her. She eventually decides, though, that she will be strong and never yield to either her family or to her fear.

from Act I of the French opera Roméo et Juliette by Charles-François Gounod

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Juliet, daughter of Capulet

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric coloratura

Setting: The Capulet's ballroom, Verona, Italy, 14th century

Synopsis: When others speak of marriage to her, Juliet sings that she would like to live inside her dream where it is eternally spring.

from Act I of the French opera Roméo et Juliette by Charles-François Gounod

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Lord Capulet, The head of the Capulet family

Voice Part: bass       Fach: lyric bass

Setting: The Capulet's ballroom, Verona, Italy, 14th century

Synopsis: Capulet encourages his guests to dance and enjoy themselves at his party

from Act I of the French opera Roméo et Juliette by Charles-François Gounod

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Mercutio, Romeo's friend

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: The Capulet's ballroom, Verona, Italy, 14th century

Synopsis: Romeo and Mercutio have come to Lord Capulet's party in disguise. When Mercutio suggests that they should use the opportunity to create trouble with their enemy, Romeo disagrees, saying that the only reason he came was because of one of his dreams. Mercutio speaks then of Queen Mab, the queen of all dreams.

from Act II of the French opera Roméo et Juliette by Charles-François Gounod

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Roméo, a Montague

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: lyric tenor

Setting: Juliet's balcony at the Capulet estate, Verona, Italy, 14th century

Synopsis: Romeo has escaped from his companions in search of Juliet's room. He finally spies her on her balcony and sings of her beauty which is like the sun. The words are almost exactly translated from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

from Act III, Scene 2 of the French opera Roméo et Juliette by Charles-François Gounod

Libretto: Jules Barbier

Role: Stephano, Romeo's page

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: lyric mezzo

Setting: A street in Verona, Italy, 14th century

Synopsis: Stephano baits the Capulets with this mocking song which states that the white dove of the Capulets (which symbolizes Juliet) will go free one day (implying that she will choose to leave the Capulet family to marry Romeo).