Simplify the following text for a Grade 9 native English-speaking person.
Original: His performances of RomÃ o in RomÃ o et Juliette by Charles Gounod at Covent Garden in 1994 ( opposite Leontina Vaduva ) catapulted him to international stardom .
Simplified: His performances of RomÃ o in RomÃ o et Juliette by Charles Gounod at Covent Garden in 1994 made him a great international star .