Charles Gounod 's tuneful adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy of the star-crossed lovers does Shakespeare the singular honour of taking him at his word and adhering fairly closely to the original, although he could not resist having them both die together so that he could give them one last duet. The opera includes the famous waltz-song Je veux vivre. Recorded last April at a performance in the Grand Théâtre,
Geneva, and featuring
Leontina Vaduva , who sang the role to critical acclaim at Covent Garden a couple of seasons ago.
Grand Theatre Chorus, Orchestra of the Suisse Romande, conductor Cyril Diederich