Devil's bargain, one soul, zero refunds — Gounod's grandest guilt trip.
Disillusioned with life, the aged philosopher Faust calls upon Satan to help him. The devil Méphistophélès appears and strikes a bargain with the philosopher: he will give him youth and the love of the beautiful Marguerite, if Faust hands over his soul. Faust agrees, and Méphistophélès arranges matters so that Marguerite loses interest in her suitor Siébel and becomes infatuated with Faust. Faust initially seems to love Marguerite in return, but soon abandons her. Her brother Valentin returns from the war and is furious to find his sister pregnant. Will Faust repent his destructive actions, and can his soul, and Marguerite's, be saved?
Acting
Schrott's devil drips charisma; Fabiano's Faust cracks beautifully.
Production
ROH staging: candles, opulence, and existential dread.
Score
Gounod's melodies weaponized against your tear ducts.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gounod's 1859 version softened Goethe's philosophical punch for Parisian audiences craving romance over metaphysics.
The famous 'Soldiers' Chorus' was a late addition to goose box office numbers — now it's the piece everyone hums leaving the theatre.
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