Romeo e Giulietta, Opera in due atti
Salvatore Di Vittorio
About this work:
SYNOPSIS OF LIBRETTO
Overture.
Prologue and Prelude to Act 1.
Verona, 1591. A chorus, representing the citizens of Verona, sings of the feud between the Montague and Capulet households ("Famiglie di Pari Nobilta" or "Families of Equal Nobility"), and the unfortunate destiny of their children Romeo and Juliet, a pair of star-crossed lovers.
Act I.
Scene 1. Ballo in Maschera. (A Masked Ball.)
(Enter masked: Capulet, Lady Capuleti, Juliet, Tybalt, Romeo, Nurse, and others.)
At a Masked Ball in the house of the Capulets, Romeo encounters Juliet and falls in love, revealing his emotions with a waltz ("Insegna alle Torce" or "She Teaches the Torches"). In honor of Juliet, the ensemble sings with Romeo about the universal love for all women. Tybalt recognizes Romeo, a Montague, but Capulet restrains him from confrontation, while declaring that the feast continues. As the Capulets and guests leave the ballroom, Romeo approaches
Juliet and both lovers sing ("Sacro Santuario" or "Sacred Sanctuary") about their mutual love, after which Romeo moves to kiss Juliet. When the Nurse calls Juliet from another room, Romeo kisses Juliet and leaves the ballroom, quite assured of her love. (Romeo exits.)
Scene 2. Giardino sotto il Balcone di Giulietta. (Garden under Juliet's
Balcony.)
(Enters Romeo, and then Juliet above her balcony.)
With a symphonic declamation, Romeo secretly enters Juliet's garden and approaches her balcony. Juliet and Romeo sing, first alone and then together, an aria-duet ("Qual'Luce Erompe?" or "What Light Shines?") as confirmation of their eternal love and refutation of the hatred between their families. (As Romeo exits, Juliet reflects.)
Act II.
Scene 1. Fuori il Palazzo Capuleti. (Outside the Capulet House.)
(Enters Tybalt and the Capulets, Mercutio and the Montagues, and then Romeo.) Outside the Capulet house, Mercutio and the Montagues run into Tybalt and the Capulets. As Tybalt offends Mercutio, Romeo tries to excuse Tybalt's rage through a march-like arioso ("Che, ci hai preso per dei musicisti?" or "Do you take us for musicians"). In a duel, Tybalt mocks Mercutio and the Capulets laugh, after which Mercutio is stabbed and dies. Romeo, now
desperate, sings a folk-song ("Aiuto" or "Help Me") and then approaches Tybalt. Romeo cannot accept nor tolerate the killing of his friend and stabs Tybalt, and Tybalt dies. Romeo, quite melancholy, kneels and sings a drammatic soliloquy ("O Dolce Giulietta" or "O Sweet Juliet") in reflection of his misfortune and destiny.
Intermezzo.
Scene 2. La Camera di Giulietta. (Juliet's Chambers.)
(Enters Romeo and Juliet, followed by Capulet and Lady Capulet, and Friar Lawrence.)
Inside Juliet's Chambers, Juliet sings an aria ("E' Giorno, E l'allodola
Canta" or "It's Dawn and the Nightingale Sings") with flute, harp, and
strings, in order to comfort Romeo. Together, Romeo and Juliet sing their principal love theme of hope ("Fortuna! Fortuna!" or "Fortune! Fortune!").
(Romeo exits.)
Capulet and Lady Capulet enter arguing in song with Juliet
("Giulietta, tu non capisci" or "Juliet, You don't understand"), since Juliet refuses to marry Paris - a noble in good relations with Capulet. (The Capulets exit and Friar Lawrence enters.) After Juliet explains her dilemma to Friar Lawrence, the good Father gives her advice and an escape route through a square near the Verona border. With all this grief and frustration, Juliet almost faints as she falls to the floor. During this time, Lady Capulet has overheard Juliet's conversation with Friar Lawrence and reports to Paris, who is quite angry and jealous of Juliet's love for Romeo. While still on the ground, Juliet sings a reprise of the main aria from Act I with ("Romeo, Perche Sei tu Romeo?" or "Romeo, Why Are you Romeo"), and then
faints.
Scena 3. Una Piazza vicino al confine di Verona. (A Square near Verona's border.)
(Enter Romeo and Juliet.)
After an introduction by the chorus ("Con Uguale Bellezza" or "With Equal Beauty"), as the citizens of Verona, Romeo and Juliet sing their principle love motif ("Fortuna! Fortuna!" or "Fortune! Fortune!") for the last time. A fanfare signals the lover's race to the edge of Verona's border. Hidden between nearby buildings, Paris's men shoot the two star-crossed lovers.
Epilogo e Finale. (Epilogue and Finale)
(Enters the Chorus.)
As a finale, the chorus (representing the citizens of Verona) sings in reflection of this tragedy. Romeo dies first with his hand reaching towards Juliet. Then Juliet, almost dead, drags herself closer to Romeo. Juliet reaches almost touching Romeo's hand and dies. (Enters the Nurse.) A great music fills the theater, while the crying nurse kneels over Romeo and Juliet, and recites a prayer for the death of these two innocent souls.
- Salvatore Di Vittorio
Year composed: 2003
Duration: 01:05:40
Ensemble type: Opera/Theater:Opera, More than One Act, with Chorus
Instrumentation: 1 Piccolo, 1 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 Clarinet, 2 Bassoon, 4 Horn in F, 3 Trumpet, 3 Trombone, 1 Tuba, 1 Timpani, 2 Percussion (General), 1 Xylophone, 1 Vibraphone, 1 Piano, 1 Celesta, 14 Violin, 4 Viola, 4 Cello, 2 Double bass, 1 Harp, 2 Soprano, 1 Mezzo-Soprano, 1 Tenor, 1 Baritone, 1 Bass, 10 S, 10 A, 10 T, 10 B
Instrumentation notes: PUBLISHER:
Edizioni Panastudio/Carisch of Warner Bros., Italy, www.panastudio.com, panastudio@panastudio.com
MANAGER:
Jeffrey James Arts Consulting, USA, www.jamesarts.com, jamesarts@worldnet.att.net