METROPOLITAN OPERA BROADCASTS: ROMEO ET
JULIETTE, PT. 2 {ACTS III, IV, AND V} (RADIO)
Summary
Part two of two. One in this series of performances by
the Metropolitan Opera. In this program, the
Metropolitan Opera performs "RomŽo et Juliette" by
Charles Gounod. Act III begins in Friar Lawrence's
cell, where RomŽo confesses that he loves a Capulet, and
wants to marry her. Although the friar is alarmed by
this news, he nonetheless marries the pair when Juliette
arrives. In the second scene, RomŽo's page, Stephano,
is walking the grounds in search of his master. Outside
the Capulet home he sings a taunting song to rouse the
family. A group of Capulets storms out of the house
with drawn swords. Just then, Mercutio and his friend
Benvolio arrive, followed by RomŽo. Tybalt calls for a
duel, which is declined by RomŽo but accepted by
Mercutio, who curses both families upon being mortally
wounded in the fight. Furious, RomŽo kills Tybalt as
revenge. Capulet and the Duke of Verona arrive on the
scene and banish RomŽo from the country. Although
remorseful about his rash act, RomŽo vows to himself
that he will face any danger to return and see his bride
again. In Act IV, RomŽo steals into Juliette's chamber
to say goodbye; Juliette is heartbroken at the news of
his banishment. After RomŽo departs, Gertrude, Capulet
and Friar Lawrence arrive to announce that out of
respect for Tybalt's death, Juliette must marry Paris, a
young suitor, at once. As her father leaves to greet
the wedding guests, the friar gives the desperate girl a
magic potion to make her appear dead, thus avoiding the
arranged wedding. He tells her that RomŽo will rescue
her from the tomb, and they can live in happiness
forever. Juliette bravely drinks the potion. Just as
the wedding procession is about to begin, she collapses
at her father's feet. In Act V, RomŽo returns,
grief-stricken at the news of his wife's death. He goes
to the tomb where Juliette is lying on a stone slab,
still unconscious. Unable to live without her, RomŽo
takes a vial of poison from his coat and drinks it, just
as Juliette begins to awaken. Overjoyed to see her
beloved, she embraces the shocked RomŽo, and the two
proclaim their love. However, her joy quickly turns to
horror when she realizes that RomŽo is dying. In utter
despair, she grabs his dagger and stabs herself, and the
lovers die in each other's arms.
(Network affiliation varies; as above, 1945-1958; NBC
Blue, 1931-1943; Blue Network, 1943-1945; CBS,
1958-1960; in syndication, 1960 to the present.)
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 1, 1947 2:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:02:00
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R86:1043
- GENRE: Radio - Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas
- SERIES RUN: ABC - Radio series, 1945-1958
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Charles Gounod … Composer
- Emil Cooper … Conductor
- Kurt Adler … Chorus Master
- Metropolitan Opera Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- Desire Defrere … Direction (Misc.), Stage Director
- Bidu Sayao … Cast, Juliette, Singer
- Mimi Benzell … Cast, Stephano, Singer
- Claramae Turner … Cast, Gertrude, Singer
- Jussi Bjorling … Cast, RomŽo, Singer
- Thomas Hayward … Cast, Tybalt, Singer
- Anthony Marlowe … Cast, Benvolio, Singer
- John Brownlee … Cast, Mercutio, Singer
- George Cehanovsky … Cast, Paris, Singer
- Philip Kinsman … Cast, Gregorio, Singer
- Kenneth Schon … Cast, Capulet, Singer
- Nicola Moscona … Cast, Friar Lawrence, Singer
- William Hargrave … Cast, the Duke of Verona, Singer
- William Shakespeare