First performed in Brno, Czechoslovakia on 30 December 1938
CAST
Mercutio, friend of Romeo
- Michele Villanova
Benvolio, friend of Romeo - Alessandro Grillo
Tybalt, nephew of Lady Capulet - Gianni Ghisleni
Lord Capulet, Juliet's father - Matteo Buongiorno
Lady Capulet, Juliet's mother - Bruna Radice
Lord Montague, Romeo's father - Maurizio Tamellini
Lady Montague, Romeo's mother- Roberta Voltolina
Duke of Verona - Danilo Tapiletti
Juliet's Nurse - Laura Costa
Friar Laurence - Sergio Sanvito
Rosalinde - Flavia Vallone
Corpo di Ballo del Teatro alla Scala
Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala - David Garforth
Choreography by Kenneth MacMillan
SYNOPSIS
ACT 1
A bustling street in Verona. An old family feud between the houses of Montague and Capulet rears its ugly head once again, provoked by a triviality. A brawl and a dagger fight are brought to an end when the Duke intervenes.
Juliet's room. Juliet is engrossed in teasing her nurse when her parents tell her that Count Paris has asked for her hand in marriage. She is flattered.
A masked ball at the home of the Capulets. Romeo is persuaded by his friends Mercutio and Benvolio to take part in the festivities. When the masked Romeo espies Juliet there, he falls head over heels in love with her. He loses his mask, Tybalt recognizes him as a Montague, and only with difficulty does Juliet's father prevent an embarrassing scene.
Night-time in the garden. Romeo and Juliet meet in secret and declare their love for each other.
ACT 2
Carnival on the streets of Verona. Benvolio and Mercutio are up to their usual tricks. Juliet's nurse hands Romeo a letter, in which Juliet gives her consent to marry Romeo in secret.
The lovers are married by Friar Laurence, who hopes that this marriage will bring an end to the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets.
In an argument, Tybalt kills Romeo's friend Mercutio. Romeo takes his revenge and stabs Tybalt. The Capulets swear revenge on the Montagues.
ACT 3
Juliet's room at dawn. Romeo has to leave the house secretly, and the lovers take their leave of each other. Juliet's parents appear and announce Juliet's imminent marriage to Paris. They are puzzled by Juliet's refusal and she is left alone, in anguish.
Juliet asks Friar Laurence for advice. He gives her a potion which will make her appear for a short time to be dead.
Juliet's room. Juliet says she is willing to marry Paris, but when her parents have left the room she drinks the potion and falls into a deep sleep. Her family mourn the (ostensibly) dead girl.
Juliet lying in state. Romeo appears and himself takes poison at his lover's bier. When Juliet awakes from her death-like sleep, she sees her dead lover and stabs herself in the heart.
