goodness me :O -
well I'm apparantly going to see Faust tomorrow night :)
3 row orchestra pit front and center stage.
Synopsis:
Faust By Charles Gounod
Act I
In his study, Faust, an aging scientist, despairs over the emptiness of a life spent seeking knowledge. He resolves to take poison but hesitates out of fear. Cursing life, and God himself, he invokes Satan, who appears in the form of the dapper demon, Méphistophélès, and asks what it is that Faust would like. The old man declares he wants youth itself, filled with “a mad orgy of emotion for the heart and senses”. Méphistophélès offers to fulfill his wish—in return for Faust’s soul. Faust wavers until Méphistophélès conjures a vision of a young girl, Marguerite, then signs the Devil’s contract and is given a potion that transforms him into a handsome youth. The two leave in search of Marguerite.
Soldiers and townsfolk convene for a carnival. Valentin, a young officer preparing to depart on a long military campaign, has been given a crucifix from his sister Marguerite, which he places around his neck. He then entrusts his young friend Siébel with Marguerite’s protection during his absence. The scene is soon interrupted byMéphistophélès, who offers as entertainment a song praising the “Golden Calf”. He then predicts dire misfortune for Wagner, a comrade of Valentin’s, and Siebel before inciting Valentin to anger by irreverently referring to Marguerite. Valentin draws his sword to defend her honour but it shatters in mid-air; he and the other soldiers recognize Méphistophélès as a demon and hold him at bay with symbols of the cross while they escape. Faust, amused at the antics of Méphistophélès, demands to be shown the girl of his dreams and Méphistophélès conjures her up through a grand waltz involving the entire village. Marguerite appears and modestly rejects Faust’s advances. Méphistophélès and Faust follow her out as the waltz reaches its climax.
Act II
Siébel, secretly in love with Marguerite, visits her garden to leave her a bouquet of flowers. Méphistophélès and Faust arrive to begin seducing the young girl. Commanding the demon to leave him alone, Faust savours the chaste atmosphere of her abode and begins to have second thoughts about destroying her innocence. Méphistophélès returns with a box of jewels and convinces Faust to hide and observe the girl’s reaction. Marguerite enters, sits at her spinning wheel, and sings a simple song, occasionally interrupting herself with musings about the young man she has met. Discovering the jewel box, she bursts into carefree song as she adorns herself with the jewelry. The men return but so does Marguerite’s eccentric neighbor Marthe, whom Méphistophélès must distract by flirting with her. To his dismay Marthe warms to his advances. This gives Faust the chance to approach Marguerite, who, under a starry sky, eventually confesses her love for Faust. Suddenly filled with shame, she entreats Faust to leave and they agree to meet the next day. Faust is overjoyed and about to leave when Méphistophélès harshly ridicules him, taunting him to pursue the girl that moment. Upon hearing the girl’s voice from her bedroom, Faust loses restraint and rushes to Marguerite, who yields to his embraces.
INTERMISSION
Act III
Many months later, Marguerite has given birth to Faust’s child. Though alone with the baby and abandoned by Faust, she still longs to see him. Distant trumpets are heard, heralding the return of the soldiers to the village and with them Valentin, who has survived the war. The soldiers bring back their fallen comrades and lay them to rest. Valentin greets Siebel and asks to see his sister immediately. Siebel hesitates to break the news that Marguerite has been dishonored and Valentin, sensing something is terribly wrong, rushes inside to see his sister. Moments later, Faust enters in a state of remorse and Méphistophélès again ridicules his weakness, finally singing a mock serenade to the girl to draw her outside. Instead, Valentin appears and demands satisfaction for his sister’s dishonour. The demon encourages Faust to fight the duel, whispering that Valentin’s sword will be able to do him no harm. At the critical moment, Faust mortally wounds the helpless soldier and flees the scene. When the villagers and Marguerite enter, Valentin curses his sister before succumbing to death. Shattered by this, Marguerite seeks refuge and forgiveness in the church, only to be pursued by Méphistophélès who calls forth a chorus of demons and threatens her with damnation. This drives her into an insanity of terror, which results in the death of her baby.
Méphistophélès drags Faust to a mysterious location. It is Walpurgis Night in the Harz Mountains, where other demons and witches are holding their sabbath. Faust is at first terrified but Méphistophélès comforts him with visions of famous courtesans from history, offering him a sweet nectar that will make him forget all of his remorse. Suddenly, Faust sees Marguerite in a vision in which she will be executed as punishment for her crime. Faust, not yet in the complete power of Méphistophélès, commands the demon to take him back to the poor girl.
They arrive at the prison and Méphistophélès warns him that their time is limited. He must convince the girl to come with them. Faust knows this would mean her eternal damnation but cannot bear the thought that she will be executed. He enters her cell and sees that she is deranged with grief. They sing of their past bliss and Faust begs her to escape with him. Méphistophélès emerges from the shadows, urging them to follow him, but Marguerite recognizes the demon and cries out for the mercy of heaven as she is executed. Méphistophélès declares her condemned but instead, an angelic choir voices the forgiveness of heaven upon her soul.
Permalink | posted by James Mendham @ 10:05 a.m. |
 
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