Faust

by Charles Gounod (1818 - 1893).
Based on Michel Carre's play Faust et Marguerite, Gounod's opera tells the tale of a man who sells his soul to the devil.

ACT I

After many years spent exploring all the known sciences in the hope that one day he may understand the secrets of nature, Faust concludes that all his efforts have been futile. In despair, he decides to poison himself. As he raises the draught to his lips the sound of peasants singing on their way to the fields makes him pause. With a curse on all human joys, he summons infernal powers to his aid. Immediately Méphistophélès, 'the spirit of denial', appears in human form offering wealth, fame or power, but Faust wishes only to regain his youth. The terms are easy: on earth Méphistophélès will be at Faust's command but thereafter Faust must forever serve him. Méphistophélès conjures up a vision of Marguerite at her spinning wheel to tempt Faust. The pact is agreed and Faust is transformed into a young man.

ACT II

At the Kernesse, carousing students sing of wine, soldiers of conquest, old men extol the pleasures of idle reminiscence, young girls flirt and older women disapprove. The soldiers are about to leave for war and one of them, Valentin, holds a medallion given to him by his sister Marguerite to protect him from danger. Their mother is dead and Marguerite will be left alone, but the students and Siebel, who is in love with Marguerite, offer to take Valentin's place while he is away. Valentin asks heaven to protect his sister. No sooner has one of the students, Wagner, started his 'Song of the Rat' than Méphistophélès interrupts and offers a song of his own. He goes on to tell fortunes: Wagner will die at the siege, Valentin will be killed in a duel and any flowers that Siebel touches will wither. Disdaining the local wine, Méphistophélès magically produces a vintage of his own, but his sardonic toast to Marguerite is too much for Valentin who draws his sword only to see the blade break. The men advance holding up their swordhilts in the shape of a cross. Méphistophélès is discomfited. Faust now appears asking where he may find the beautiful girl that Méphistophélès had shown him in the vision. A waltz begins. Marguerite appears and Faust steps forward to offer his arm. She declines it and goes on her way. Faust is left entranced.

ACT III

Siebel comes to Marguerite's garden. He gathers flowers which he hopes may bear a message of love to her; they wither in his hand as Méphistophélès had predicted. He dips his fingers in holy water and the spell is broken. He picks more flowers and Méphistophélès and Faust, concealed, watch him when he returns to lay them down where Marguerite will find them. Left alone, Faust ponders on the pure charm and innocence of the scene. Méphistophélès returns with a jewel-casket which he covers with flowers. He and Faust withdraw. Marguerite enters singing an old ballad to herself while her thoughts dwell upon the unknown young man who had greeted her. Picking up the flowers she sees the casket and cannot restrain herself from opening it. The brilliant jewels she finds excite her and she tries them on with childlike wonder. As her neighbour, Dame Marthe, congratulates her on her good fortune, Faust and Méphistophélès return. In a quartet the growing ardour of the lovers is set against the light comedy of the devil flirting with Marthe. Méphistophélès casts a spell over the garden and bids the flowers exhale their most voluptuous fragrance. Faust and Marguerite declare their love. When Marguerite has retired, Méphistophélès appears again to induce Faust to remain. They hear the words she breathes from her window to the stars and Faust rushes in to embrace her.

ACT IV

Marguerite has been deserted by her lover, Faust, to whose child she has given birth. The soldiers have returned from the war, and Siebel tries to prepare Valentin for the news he will hear of his sister. Méphistophélès arrives with Faust and sings a mocking serenade that brings out Valentin to challenge Faust to a duel; Valentin, having thrown away his sister's protective medallion, is mortally wounded when Méphistophélès treacherously intervenes in the fight. Neighbours hurry to the scene. Marguerite is with them; her brother pitilessly curses her as he dies. In a cathedral, Marguerite kneels in prayer while a requiem is being sung. Méphistophélès reminds her of her lost innocence and warns her that no hope of pardon remains. His menaces and the dread words of the Dies Irae intoned by the choir terrify her.

ACT V

In the Harz mountains, Faust and Méphistophélès watch as witches gather to celebrate Walpurgis Night. Faust wishes to leave, but Méphistophélès conjures up a scene in which he is surrounded by the most beautiful women in history. As a ballet is danced, Faust believes he sees Marguerite. He asks to be taken to her, and as he and Méphistophélès depart the witches reappear. Marguerite lies in prison condemned to death for murdering her baby. Faust has compelled Méphistophélès to bring him to her cell so that he may rescue her. At the sound of his voice she relives in her confused mind their meeting at the Fair and the scene in the garden, but when she sees Méphistophélès, she renounces her lover and his evil associations, and praying for deliverance she dies. Méphistophélès now claims her soul too, but he is thwarted by celestial voices declaring that she is saved.

- Royal Opera House, Covent Garden