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Overview

Synopsis

Faust, an aging scholar, has devoted his life to studying. As he reflects on his life, he feels that nothing has come of his devotion. He contemplates suicide and, as he is about to do so, he curses God and asks the devil to appear. Mephistopheles, the devil, appears and tempts Faust with an image of a lovely young woman, Marguerite, and Faust makes a deal with the devil. The deal will make Faust young again, as the devil will give Faust life on earth and, in return, Faust must spend eternity with Mephistopheles in Hell. Faust lusts after Marguerite and eventually wins her over. His thirst for youth has left him with little care of the consequences others will face. Marguerite becomes pregnant, causing her brother, Valentin, to challenge Faust to a duel. Faust, with Mephistopheles’ help, ends up killing Valentin. Marguerite later kills her child and is imprisoned. Faust is let into the prison by Mephistopheles and the two men tell Marguerite they will get her out. Marguerite, however, tells them she would prefer her fate to be in the hands of God. Her faith eventually saves her and she ascends to heaven. With all its controversial moments, Faust, is one of the most loved, and most upsetting operas. With the struggle between religion, moral value, and sin, its story is intensely theatrical. While many versions of the story have made appearances on stage, Gounod’s music best captures all the different colors, emotions, and points of view shared in this miraculous story.

Show Information

Lyrics
Jules Barbier
Based On Book By
Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Johann Wolfgang Goethe
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1859
Genres
Drama
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
germany, 16th century
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
College/University, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Mephistopheles

Lead

Male

Bass

Faust

Lead

Male

Tenor

Marguerite

Lead

Female

Soprano

Valentin

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Wagner

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Siebel

Supporting

Male

Mezzo-Soprano

Marthe

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Chorus

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

  • ACT 1
  • Scene and Chorus - Rien! En vain j’interroge (Faust, Chorus)
  • Scene and Duet - Mais ce Dieu (Faust, Mephistopheles)
  • ACT 2
  • Grand Chorus - Vin ou bière (Chorus)
  • Aria, Recitative, and Cavatina - O sainte médaille...Avant de quitter ces lieux (Valentin, Wagner, Chorus)
  • Aria - Le veau d’or (Mephistopheles, Chorus)
  • Scene and Chorus - Merci de ta chanson! (Wagner, Valentin, Siebel, Mephistopheles, Chorus)
  • Chorus - De l’enfer qui vient (Chorus)
  • Waltz and Chorus - Ainsi que la brise légerère (Chorus)
  • ACT 3
  • Aria - Faites-lui mes aveux (Siebel)
  • Aria - Salut! Demeure chaste et pure (Faust)
  • Aria - Ah! Je ris de me voir si belle (Marguerite)
  • Scene and Quartet - Seigneur Dieu, que vois-je! (Marguerite, Martha, Mephistopheles, Faust)
  • Duet - Il se fait tard, adieu! (Marguerite, Faust)
  • ACT 4
  • Entracte and Recit. - Elle ne sont plus là (Marguerite, Chorus)
  • Scene - Elles se cachaient! Ah! Cruelles! (Marguerite, Siebel)
  • Scene - Seigneur, daignez permettre à vottre humble servante (Marguerite, Mephistopheles, Chorus)
  • Chorus of Soldiers - Déposons les armes (Chorus, Siebe, Valentin)
  • Scene and Serenade - Qu’attedez vous encore? (Mephistopheles, Faust
  • Serenade - Vous qui faites (Mephistopheles)
  • Trio - Que voulez-vous, messieurs? (Valentin, Mephistopheles, Faust
  • Death of Valentin - Par ici, par ici, mes amis! (Siebel, Marthe, Chorus, Valentin, Marguerite)
  • ACT 5
  • Scene - Walpurgis Nacht - Dans les bruyères (Chorus, Faust, Mephistopheles
  • Trio and Finale - Vaten! Le jour va luire (Faust, Méphistophélès, Marguerite, Chorus)

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

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Scenes

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