PROLOGUE. Verona, fourteenth century. A chorus chants of the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets and of their children, the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet.

ACT I: Ballroom in the Capulet's House. At a masked ball at the Capulet palace, Juliet’s arrival is eagerly awaited by her cousin Tybalt and her suitor Paris. Capulet presents his daughter, the revelers exclaim at her beauty, and Juliet rhapsodizes on her joy. Suddenly Romeo sees Juliet at a distance. As she waltzes around the room, singing of the freedom of youth, Romeo shyly approaches her, asking if his hand may touch hers. Tybalt returns just as Juliet tells her name to Romeo, who masks himself and rushes off. Tybalt identifies the intruder as Montague’s son, but Capulet restrains him, ordering the party to continue.

ACT II: Beneath Juliet's balcony. Later that night, Romeo hides until Mercutio and other friends stop calling for him. Then he apostrophizes Juliet as the sun, the purest, brightest star. The girl steps forth on her balcony to lament her attraction for an enemy, and Romeo comes forward. The two ecstatically pledge their love but are interrupted by some Capulets searching for a Montague page. Then Romeo and Juliet tenderly bid each other good night.

ACT III: Friar Laurent's cell. At Friar Laurence’s cell, Romeo appears at daybreak, followed by Juliet and her nurse, Gertrude. The priest agrees to marry the young lovers in the hope that their union will end the feud between their families.

Outside Capulet’s house, Romeo’s page, Stephano, sings a mocking song, which provokes a fight with Gregorio and other Capulet retainers. Mercutio protects Stephano and is challenged by Tybalt, who insults Romeo when he tries to make peace. Mercutio duels Tybalt to defend the Montague honor and is slain, whereupon Romeo kills Tybalt.  The Duke of Verona stops the bloodshed, banishing Romeo from the city.

ACT IV: Juliet's bedroom. At dawn in Juliet’s bedroom, the lovers exchange words of adoration before Romeo reluctantly leaves for exile. Capulet and Friar Laurence greet Juliet with news that she is to wed Paris that very day, but the priest gives her a sleeping potion that will make her appear dead. He promises that she will wake with Romeo beside her. Juliet drinks the potion, and when Capulet and the others arrive to lead her to the church, she collapses.

ACT V: The tomb of the Capulets. In a gloomy tomb, Romeo soliloquizes on his beloved Juliet, whom he believes dead. In despair he takes poison, only to see Juliet awaken. They hail a new life, but Romeo soon falters. He bids farewell to the frantic girl, who grasps his dagger and stabs herself. The lovers die praying for God’s forgiveness.

--courtesy of Opera News