In 1962 John Cranko's choreography of Romeo and Juliet for the Stuttgart Ballet helped the company achieve a worldwide reputation. It had its American premiere in 1969.
Romeo and Juliet is a ballet by Sergei Prokofiev based on William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It is one of the most enduringly popular ballets. Music from the ballet was extracted by Prokofiev as three suites for orchestra and as a piano work.
Synopsis
Act l Scene 1 A Square in Verona. Brawl between the Montagues and Capulets.
Scene 2 A masked Romeo and Mercutio are on their way to the ball at the Capulets.
Scene 3 Juliet’s Room. Preparations for the ball.
Scene 4 Ball at the Capulets.
Scene 5 The Capulets’ Garden. First Meeting between Romeo and Juliet.
Act ll Scene 1 A Square in Verona. Carnival. Meeting between Mercutio and Tybalt.
Scene 2 Church. Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and Juliet in secret.
Scene 3 A Square in Verona. Quarrel, ending in a duel, between Mercutio and Tybalt. Death of Mercutio. Romeo’s revenge and Tybalt’s death Lament for the Dead.
Scene 4 Juliet’s Room. The Lovers meet prior to their separation. Paris woos Juliet.
Scene 5 Romeo’s despair in banishment.
Scene 6 Friar Lawrence gives Juliet an opiate.
Scene 7 Juliet’s Room. Paris woos Juliet. Juliet drinks the opiate. Juliet’s vision.
Scene 8 The house of the Capulets. Paris’ morning Serenade. News of Juliet’s fictitious death. The sad news puts an end to the wedding preparations.
Scene 9 The Capulet Vault Romeo’s despair. Romeo bids farewell to Juliet. Death of the Lovers.