Study Guide
Study Guide Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Beginner's Guide to Opera
- Who's Who At the Opera
- The Lyric Opera House
- BOC Education Programs
- A Bibliography of Selected Readings
- Education Resources
2007-2008 SEASON
2006-2007 SEASON
2005-2006 SEASON
2004-2005 SEASON
2003-2004 SEASON
2002-2003 SEASON
PREVIOUS OPERAS
Roméo et Juliette
Opera in four acts
Music:
Charles Gounod (CHAR-ehls Goo-NOH)
b. 18 June 1818; Paris, France
d. 18 October 1893; Saint-Cloud, France
Libretto:
Jules Barbier and Michel Carré after William Shakespeare
Premiere:
27 April, 1867; Théâtre Lyrique, Paris
Please note that, for all intents and purposes, there is no syllabic stress in French; therefore no syllables will be in bold face type. In addition, the French language utilizes sounds that incorporate a nasality - the vowel is not actually pronounced but is inflected. Nasalities will be marked with an asterisk.
Principal Characters:
| Juliette (ZH**-lee-eht) Of the House of Capulet | Soprano |
| Roméo (Roh-MAY-oh) Of the House of Montague | Tenor |
| Gertrude (ZHER-Tr**d) Juliette's nurse | Contralto |
| Père Laurent (Pehr Loh-ROHN) Priest | Basso profundo |
| Mercutio (Mer-C**-see-oh) Friend of Roméo | Baritone |
| Stephano (Steh-FAH-noh) A page in the House of Montague | Mezzo soprano |
| Le Comte Capulet (Luh Com*t Cah-p**-LAY) Juliette's Father | Bass |
| Tybalt (TEE-bahylt) Friend of the Capulets | Tenor |
**Form your lips to say the vowel "ooh" and, maintaining that position, say the vowel "eeh"
Roméo et Juliette (Roh-MAY-oh ay ZHOO-lee-eht) takes place in Verona in the 14th century. (Mah-REE-ah Stoo-AHR-dah) takes place in London, England in the second part of the 16th century.
- Roméo et Juliette
- The Story
- Charles Gounod
- Michel Carré and Jules Barbier
- Reflections on Roméo et Juliette From the Conductor's Podium
- William Shakespeare and His Play “Romeo and Juliet”
- Perspectives on the Aria "Mab La Reine des Mensonges"
- Sleeping Potions in Opera
- A Cappella Choruses in Opera
- The Rose
- The Operas of Charles Gounod
- Roméo et Juliette Discography